Identifies the 20-item Classroom Apprehension Participation Scale as a highly reliable measure of class apprehension. Finds that the scale also provides additional information about behaviors of potential difficulty as well as several evaluative attitudes that make an impact on participation apprehension. (AEW)

Focuses on individually controlled, individually induced psychophysiological approaches to mental relaxation that students can use to achieve a level of calm and psychological confidence that will enable them to control their behavior and thought processes and to handle stressful situations. (FL)

Academic Learning Time (ALT) is an indirect measure of student achievement in cases where permanent products are difficult to collect. Differences in the ALT physical education subcategories are examined for two different instructional situations, different activity units, and for student characteristics of sex, skill level, and special-needs…

Seventy-four elementary school teachers rated five behavior problems portrayed in videotaped vignettes in terms of severity, manageability, tolerance, and contagion. Only contagion yielded significant differences (stronger within the disruptive context), suggesting that teachers held the target child responsible for the classroom disorder.…

Examines changes in religion and related values by race and sex at one university by comparing questionnaire responses of incoming freshmen in 1973 (N=270) and in 1983 (N=389). Results indicated a decline in religious orthodoxy from 1973 to 1983. Sex and racial differences are discussed. (NRB)

Identifies foreign language anxiety as a conceptually distinct variable in foreign language learning and interprets it with the context of existing theoretical and empirical work on specific anxiety reactions. Discusses the effects of this anxiety on language learning and its pedagogical implications. (SED)

Explored the effects of microcomputer instruction organization on three variables: (1) sex of student; (2) social arrangement of classroom; and (3) curricular presentation (high and low guidance) for algebra I (N=114) students at a suburban high school. Learning was significant regardless of treatment, but behavioral changes were different under…

Review of 20 studies comparing relative efficacy of individual and group contingencies found the former to be generally superior when academic performance was the targeted behavior. In contrast, no consistent differential effect was found when students' social response was the targeted behavior, yet increased verbal threats were reported during…

A study of the relationship of class size to the length, frequency, and cognitive level and diversity of both teacher and student verbalizations in medical instruction in an Israeli university is reported. (MSE)

Self-rating procedures for industrial arts teachers are explained and methods for using them are described. The scales rate teacher concern for students and for student productivity. Ways of using the results of grid ratings are given also. (CT)

Experts believe that a governing board-approved, comprehensive alcohol policy is necessary as a risk management tool for colleges and universities. A sound alcohol policy should be based on the concepts of freedom of choice and responsibility to which legal adults are entitled in society. (MLW)

A meta analysis of research findings on the relationship between the physical environment and student behavior and achievement will lead to areas that need further investigation. Evaluation results can influence improving existing facilities and planning new ones. (MLF)

Investigated the laboratory behavior strategies of 600 class five biology students (319 boys and 281 girls) associated with attitudes toward laboratory work and improved performance in such practical skills as planning and design of experiments and the observation, recording, and interpretation of data. (JN)

Measuring and evaluating affective objectives is often a difficult task for the physical educator. This article offers physical education teachers a guide for developing and evaluating appropriate affective behavioral objectives. (DF)

Examines reasons why some elementary and secondary students learn programming in BASIC and LOGO much better than others suggesting this happens because students bring different learning patterns to the programming context. Pitfalls novices face in learning programming are discussed, and instructional design suggestions to foster better learning…