Two hypotheses were tested: (1) prediction that open space environments promote persistence on difficult tasks and (2) prediction that persistence and achievement are more positively correlated in open space than in conventional classes. (Author/DEP)

The similarities between television viewing and fantasy activity (daydreaming, reverie, mind-wandering, internal dialogue) more than warrant the building of a theoretical construct, especially in the context of recent empirical research on television viewing consequences. A construct of the television viewing process, based on cognitive theories…

The concept of attention in sport is important because the inability to process the right kind and amount of information may lead to a mismatch in perception and consequent motor output. Research has shown that the ability to choose between relevant and irrelevant information increases dramatically at about 12 years of age. By giving up the…

Ethnographically derived measures of sibling caretaking were correlated with attentiveness to a peer tutor for 26 kindergarten children in the Kamehameha Early Education Program (KEEP). It was hypothesized that children raised in a sibling caretaking system would be more accustomed to learning from other children than those reared primarily by…

The "direct instructional method" of teaching is a systematic approach for directing the learner's attention and eliciting an appropriate response. While this method is generally used in small group instruction, this paper suggests that it can be equally effective in large groups, and examples are given of ways to use this strategy.…

Recent research indicates the centrality of "attending" as a variable in reading acquisition. Attending is, in fact, more important than such traditionally accepted influences as intelligence, cognitive style, attitudes, and language background. Differences in attending behavior, which are molded through match and mismatch of expectations with…

This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a relatively short-term program of relaxation training in producing changes in elementary students in terms of attention-related skills associated with reading tasks in the classroom. Evaluation of change was measured by change in experimental variables and subjective evaluations of change.…

Children read sets of words under three conditions: with no pictures, with related pictures, and with unrelated pictures. Results indicated that words were read more slowly whenever pictures were present; that unrelated pictures produced more interference than related pictures; and that both effects were inversely related to reading ability.…

Hagen's central-incidental learning task, the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire (IAR), and the Nowicki-Strickland Scale (N-S) locus of control measures were used to examine selective attention and locus of control--two variables associated with motivation and learning--with 56 normal and learning disabled junior and senior high…

Understanding learning strategies used by gifted students can help teachers improve effectiveness in all learners. Six traits common among the gifted and modifiable in students with learning difficulties include (1) superior concentration skills; (2) field independence; (3) reflection; (4) internal locus of control; (5) active learning; and (6)…

In self-regulated learning, metacognitive components are necessary but insufficient. There is a need for a strong learning intention which can compete with other goals, interests, and distracting stimuli. Task accomplishment is an important factor in continued motivation and intention. (JAZ)

Contrasts a fixed-rate presentation list with one in which half the items in a single list were presented at a fast rate and half at a slow rate during paired associative learning with 24 children (aged 8 to 22 years) who were diagnosed with having an attention deficit disorder. (HOD)

Describes two experiments that examined the effects of quantity and depth of processing on elementary school children's time perception. (HOD)

Tested two models of the relationship between a hypothetical attachment mechanism and an incompatible motivation (a tendency to explore) by pitting two levels of attachment motivation against two levels of exploratory motivation among 15- to 18-month-old infants, alternating freely between play with novel toys at one end of the room and visits…

Classroom behavior has been shown to be, in some cases, more important than measured ability for predicting young children's academic outcomes. This study examined the relationship between kindergarten children's work-related classroom behaviors and their kindergarten and first-grade achievement. A battery of achievement tests (receptive…