This paper summarizes work from a dissertation that examines the determinants of public school performance, focusing on the roles of incentives and parental involvement. The thesis presents theory and related empirics. In the theory, it analyzes the effects of competition on public school productivity, with and without parental involvement, as…

This report describes a program for increasing academic growth through motivating students to read. The targeted population includes kindergarten, first, third, and high school special education students. The lack of motivation in reading was documented through data revealed by pre-surveys and post-surveys of students' interest in books. Analysis…

Children of active parents tend to be more active. This Digest describes the various socialization factors that influence a child's interest and involvement in physical activity. While role modeling exerts some effect, recent research suggests that the nature of parental influence may be much more complex. A useful theoretical model to explain…

This study involves developing a motivational model of college achievement. The predictor variables, which were procrastination tendency, self-efficacy, self-regulation, intrinsic value, outcome value, cognitive strategy, test anxiety, students grade goals, parent grade goals, and grade point average, as well as the criterion variable exam…

Does an increase in a welfare mother's education improve her young child's academic performance or behavior? Positive correlations between mothers' educational attainment and children's well being, particularly children's cognitive development and academic outcomes, are among the most replicated results from developmental studies. Yet,…

Presented at the 66th Annual Convention of the National Catholic Educational Association, Detroit, Michigan, April 7-10, 1969.

Drawing upon recent research findings and upon a case study of a child learning to talk and to read, the author outlines the important similarities in the development of both language and literacy. The characteristics of parent-child interaction which support language acquisition--semantic contingency, scaffolding, accountability procedures, and…

Results indicate that children who frequently watch family television shows appear to believe that families in real life show the same support and concern for each other and that parents who discuss the reality and utility of such programs can influence the amount and kind of learning their children receive from television. (PD)

A study of adolescents in Hong Kong suggested that parents' behavior toward their children did affect children's achievement in reading and other verbal skills. A more democratic style of child rearing correlated with the development of good reading abilities. (MKM)

This lengthy study analyzed cognitive, behavioral, and family background variables in boys, age 6-7 and 10-11, from socially handicapped families. (Note: Page f. . .=fiche number.) (CP)

Tested a conceptual model of parenting to determine whether maternal child-centered perspectives mediated relations between parenting resources of social support, child-rearing history, and self-esteem and the child's developmental level with parenting behavior. Found that mothers' perspectives directly related to parenting behavior in two…

A study investigated individual and socioenvironmental predictors of adjustment to college in 29 students with disabilities. Results indicate problem-solving skills, social support from campus organizations and parents, and satisfaction with services for students with disabilities were each associated with higher reported levels of student…

Results from a self-report study of 1,139 Hong Kong secondary school students show that an equation containing peers' deviant behavior, peers' disapproval of deviant behavior, frequency of media exposure, preference for violent and obscene content, imitation of media characters, parents' deviant behavior, and teachers' negative evaluation…

Examined effects of early supportive parenting on children's school adjustment. Found that supportive parenting (maternal warmth, proactive teaching, inductive discipline, and positive involvement) predicted adjustment (behavior problems, social skills, and academic performance) in grade 6, even after controlling for kindergarten adjustment and…

Suggests parents use catalogs to help children increase reading and math skills. Points out that catalogs link language and print, that children can increase vocabulary through picture naming, and that sorting pictures and classifying objects can increase thinking skills. Suggests that children can practice adding, counting, and comparison…