Jury verdicts in recent high-profile cases, including the O. J. Simpson murder trial, have been controversial. Suggestions are offered for reform of jury trials to lessen the impact of societal stereotypes and public opinion. Among these suggestions are to eliminate or restrict peremptory juror challenges and rewrite and clarify instructions to…

Describes a project that surveyed a stratified sample of college seniors who took the Graduate Record Examinations General Test in 1990 and who were majoring in natural sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, and engineering. Women earned lower test scores than men and rated many of their abilities lower. Differences among ethnic groups were…

A survey of 692 regular and special educators found that teachers selected punishing and exclusionary interventions most often for Asian-American students and least often for Hispanic-American students. Special educators were more likely than regular educators to use behavior interventions. Implications for teacher training, teacher…

Tested equivalence of theoretical model of parenting behaviors linking financial strain to adolescents' achievement for African American and European American families and single- and two-parent families. Found no significant differences in structural equation models between ethnic/racial groups or between family types. Negative parent-adolescent…

Examines the roles of race, ethnicity, and academic skills in predicting whether high school students will persist along the path into teaching, noting that the challenge of creating a diverse teaching force is increasing minority youths' high school graduation, college enrollment, and college graduation rates. High school sophomores' career…

Using a sample of 15,885 adolescents derived from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, this study examined (1) unique additive influences of race, family, and community and (2) various multiplicative influences among race, family, and community factors on adolescent distress. Community characteristics such as community poverty and…

This study examined the role of adaptation in the first year of middle school (Grade 6, age 11) to affiliation with gangs by the last year of middle school (Grade 8, age 13). The sample consisted of 714 European American (EA) and African American (AA) boys and girls. Specifically, academic grades, reports of antisocial behavior, and peer relations…

Foster care's impact on academic development was investigated for 392 students reentering foster care. Psychoeducational evaluation was performed at initial and return placements. Average achievement increased 0.22 points between placements. Students reentering care did not show differences in achievement or IQ compared to control students with a…

Data-mining technology's predictive modeling was applied to enhance the prediction of enrollment behaviors of admitted applicants at a large state university. (Contains 4 tables and 6 figures.)

This chapter explores the important social-psychological factors along individuals' developmental pathways that influence youths' computer-related occupational decisions. Findings suggest that these factors differentially influence information technology pursuits dependent on youths' race and gender. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

Social constructivist theories of race suggest no two measures of race will capture the same information, but the degree of "error" this creates for quantitative research on inequality is unclear. Using unique data from the General Social Survey, I find observed and self-reported measures of race yield substantively different results when used to…

Findings from this study show that living-learning (LL) programs at a research institution in the Midwest have a series of positive outcomes for both academic achievement and intellectual engagement. Controlling for past academic achievement, socioeconomic status, and demographic characteristics, LL programs are predictors, albeit small…

Data from 520 British secondary school age children were used to explore determinants of and mental health outcomes (measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) from their non-resident fathers' relationships (child-reported father's involvement and frequency of contact) with them. Frequency of contact was negatively related to time…

A nationwide survey of pre-service physical education majors/minors was completed during the 2003-2004 academic year (N = 755). Demographic information collected included age, gender, athletic background, Body Mass Index (BMI) and racial/ethnic background. Wellness practices were surveyed (physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco/alcohol use).…

It is a well-known but highly misunderstood fact that Black and Hispanic students who start out at community colleges are less likely to earn a bachelor's degree with six years than their White or Asian peers. In this article, the author discusses several factors that account for this trend: (1) Black and Hispanic students who start their…