Uses the experience of the University of California in abandoning affirmative action admissions policies to explore the real consequences of the removal of minority preferences in law and medical schools. Although numbers of racial minorities are reduced in the short run, it is argued that the change will benefit students with solid…

Explores the debate over affirmative action in higher education in the larger historical context, arguing for a broader interpretation of affirmative action that expands it beyond racialized imagery. The expanded use of affirmative action in the 1960s and 1970s should be understood as a component of a movement to attack causes of inequality in the…

This statement signed by 52 researchers outlines conclusions regarded as mainstream among researchers on intelligence, especially on the nature, origins, and practical consequences of individual and group differences in intelligence. The survey from which the statement was developed is described. (SLD)

Studied the relationship between cognitive complexity, racial belief and the influence of a nonstandard dialect in listener evaluative reactions with 135 black and white undergraduates. Results indicate that the individual's racial beliefs were more influential in language assessment than cognitive complexity. (SLD)

Analysis of a 1% sample of performance appraisals of federal employees of comparable education and experience (1990-95) found that women, especially whites, received higher ratings than white men at the same level. Minorities were more likely to receive a "fully successful" rating and less likely to receive an "outstanding" rating. (SK)

Investigated young people's perception of race, class, and language bias in the court system, surveying youth from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds who were detained at a training school or enrolled in a community program. Minority respondents were more negative in their perceptions of judges and court workers than were nonminority respondents.…

Provides IRORs (internal rates of return) to investment in higher education by race and sex, using data from the 1985 wave of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Black males obtain a rate of return somewhat below other subgroups. Females tend to have a larger return to an investment in education than their male counterparts. (63 references) (MLH)

Results from a battery of 17 diverse tests completed by 877 white and 855 black students in grades 3 through 8 support Spearman's hypothesis that the white-black difference in test performance is predominantly a general intelligence ("g") difference rather than a unitary developmental difference affecting all factors in test performance.…

Recent data on 9th-12th grade methamphetamine use (both lifetime and last month prevalence) are summarized. Since 1992 methamphetamine use has increased. There were no significant differences in use noted across school year. Males are more likely to use than females, although female use has also increased. Implications for research, prevention,…

Studied policies and practices of university personnel in their use of affirmative action programs for African American students. Findings from approximately 120 university personnel suggest that public policies toward student affirmative action may play a role in establishing policies and practices, but Missouri personnel are very similar in…

Discusses the difficulties of defining races and establishing statistical differences between such groups. Points out that studies of such aspects as temperament or basic personality traits show much more variation within groups than between groups. Investigators of such questions should be especially careful to use sound methodology and cautious…

Examines the importance of cultural literacy for the mastery of introductory sociology. Administers cultural literacy test to 709 undergraduate students. Finds that females and Blacks score lower than non-Black males, but women subsequently exhibit higher overall academic performance. The Cultural Literacy Test is appended. (NL)

Finds that, for 147 Florida migrant farm workers interviewed in 1978, support for unionization was related, in descending order, to being Black, to perceiving mechanization as a threat, and to being dependent on farm work, married, a non-citizen, illiterate, and poorly educated. Contains 22 references. (SV)

Examined factors that influence children's competence in mathematics when they begin first grade. Results indicated that parent education, family economic resources, and parent expectations influenced children's competence. Race and family structure, when considered apart from other variables, were not significant influences. (PCB)

Surveys American mothers, both Black and White, on issues of kin networks, childcare, and financial support. Confirms Black mothers have better access to relatives for financial support and childcare, though almost one-third of Blacks had no kin network. Network support insufficiently met childcare needs of many mothers. (Author/TES)