Using school records, questionnaires, interviews, and psychological tests, researchers studied the factors affecting academic achievement in a large, urban, technical high school. For 20 high-achieving and 20 low-achieving seniors, data were gathered on sex, ethnicity, personality factors, high school and college entrance test scores, grade point…

The perceptions of a group of university faculty women about their work loads were studied. Respondents were asked about their responsibilities at home, about the time they spend on their professions, their households, and their families. They were also asked to judge whether and to what extent they feel overworked and about their attitudes toward…

Academic advising by faculty members has often been ineffective. Peer advising systems that employ peers as academic counselors may successfully address student criticism of faculty advising systems. Peer systems capitalize on the primacy of peer influence, provide an economical delivery system, and are available and accessible to students. These…

This study examined the perceptions of 15 elementary school teachers on their personal and professional development. In focused interviews, they were asked their perceptions of the characteristics of their personal and professional development and of the major influences on that development. The teachers' experience ranged from 4 to 28 years. The…

A study was conducted to describe the relationship of the attitudes of significant others and other career-influencing factors to the attitudes which both traditional and nontraditional female students in vocational education have toward nontraditional work roles for men and women. Another facet of the study was to determine whether these…

The relationships between student and high school, and school and community in a small, rural Midwestern community ("Mansfield") were documented through on-site interviews, tapes, diaries, and minutes of school board meetings. Mansfield school district contained approximately 2,200 persons and somewhat over 500 students in a…

The Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale was found to be helpful in assisting both teachers and counselors in classifying nonproductive classroom behaviors. Peer modeling and role-playing significantly reduced classroom disturbances and resulted in improved attendance (though increased attendance did not result in increased learning).…

A study of identity development was carried out in Bristol, England, with Asian, West Indian, and indigenous British adolescents. Ethnic and gender differences in patterns of identification conflict with others were found between minority group boys and girls. Both sexes from both minority groups, however, had substantial identification conflicts…

This study was designed to assess the relative importance of various factors influencing children's sex role orientations. A measure of sex role flexibility developed for this study and a self concept questionnaire were administered to 376 children in kindergarten and third grade. The children's parents were interviewed about sex role attitudes…

Peer social behaviors and interaction were observed in day care centers and family day care homes in order to examine the influences of experience and environment. The naturally occurring behaviors of forty toddlers and their peers were time sampled in day care settings. Day care facilities were community based and varied in group size, age…

Little is known about how children gain interpersonal access in settings where adults are not present or are unavailable. This study sought to describe children's strategies for access into and withdrawal from peer interactive episodes in a nursery school. Data were collected from direct observations of two groups of children. One group attended…

A model of the decision-making process for college choice that has three phases (predisposition, search, and choice) is proposed, and the implications of this model for college and government policy formation are examined. (MSE)

Reviews recent research on the nature of teachers' and students' talk in the classroom, specifically addressing the teachers' expectations of student talk and behavior. (SRT)

The focus of this hearing was on funding for abstinence education. Following an opening statement by Subcommittee Chairman Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, witness testimonies were heard from: Dr. Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.; Rev. Kenneth Page,…

"Too Good for Drugs"[TM] is designed to promote life skills, character values, resistance skills to negative peer influence, and resistance to the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The program, which targets elementary and middle school students, is based on classroom discussions and structured activities that center on…