Examined relationship satisfaction and commitment among African-American (n=34 couples) and white (n=61 couples) dating heterosexual couples. Found that extent to which variables from interdependence, individual differences, and problem-solving models were linked to both relationship satisfaction and relationship commitment did not differ for…

Introduces the confluence model as a theory specifying the process by which the intellectual environment modifies intellectual development. Using this model, explores the contradiction between prediction of secular trends in test scores by trends in aggregate birth order and the lack of prediction of individual test scores by birth order using…

Examines the advantages of geodemography (the study of population characteristics within a geographic context) and predictive statistical modeling for college student recruitment, and describes a new College Board service combining the strengths of the two approaches with its education-specific data collected from college-bound students. (MSE)

Studied factors accounting for elementary school achievement. Analysis of achievement test results in language arts and mathematics in Calgary (Alberta, Canada) shows that social class variables explain up to 45% of the variation, with student-body characteristics explaining 6% to 11% and school-based variables explaining a further 3% to 6%. (SLD)

Disadvantaged Mexican dropouts aged 16-22 (n=25) and 25 Hispanic elementary students completed dropout-prediction instruments. Elementary students were unable to consider their future and self-report was not viable for them. Among dropouts, pregnancy and moving around were salient predictors. Modifications of the instruments were recommended. (SK)

High school students in introductory accounting (n=64) took two combined problem-based and objective tests and a final objective exam. Combined format scores accounted for 62% of variance in achievement. Only the final objective-exam scores were unique predictors of achievement. (SK)

Applies neural network methods for forecasting 1991-95 per-pupil expenditures in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools. Forecasting models included the National Center for Education Statistics' multivariate regression model and three neural architectures. Regarding prediction accuracy, neural network results were comparable or superior to…

Finds that reasonably accurate predictions of election results can be made based on selected phonetic features in candidates' names. Discusses the emotive effect of speech sounds, distinguishes them from other types of meaning, surveys previous types of studies, describes the development of the author's analytical model and its attributes, and…

Tenth graders' (n=7,953) achievement perceptions were compared with their college major choices 2-4 years later. Math achievement perceptions had the strongest effect for men and lower socioeconomic status women. English achievement perceptions had stronger effects than math for middle and high socioeconomic status women. (SK)

A scale to assess the goal of avoiding the demonstration of lack of ability (performance-avoid) was included with scales assessing approach goals for 703 sixth graders. Performance-avoid scales negatively predicted academic efficacy and positively predicted avoiding seeking help and test anxiety. Implications for goal theory are discussed. (SLD)

Seven different short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Revised (WAIS-R) were compared in a mixed clinical sample of 306 adults to evaluate short form predictions of the full scale IQ. The seven-test short form of C. Ward (1990) was the best predictor across ranges of intellectual functioning, supporting its use when time is limited.…

Studied the impact of practice tests on students' calibration and examination performance for multiple-choice and essay examinations. Results for 59 graduate students show that practice tests were associated with significantly lower scores on the midterm multiple-choice items and less accurate predictions and postdictions on these items. Discusses…

Proposes pedagogical solutions to problems beginning language learners have reading World Wide Web documents--reading an electronic format and deciphering the language used in Web pages. Proposed are a study of Uniform Resource Indicators (URLs) to enhance predictions, the analysis of visuals that support the meaning of the text, and the…

Developed an item response theory model of response stability based on the local independence principle. Tested the model, which predicts response changes under repeated administrations of the same instrument, with real data for 432 Spanish undergraduates. Results indicate that the model predictions are approximately fulfilled. (SLD)

Adapted Keil's predictability method to examine adults' and preschoolers' conceptions of numbers, focusing on the ontological distinction between numbers and sets of objects. Found that children, like adults, attribute spatial-arrangement properties to collections much more than to numbers, although both are considered to have quantitative…