Based on the results of research studies to date, a few revisions in current evaluation procedures of music students could help improve procedures that are commonly acknowledged to be inefficient for selecting students for performing groups, for awards or scholarships, or for school admissions and placement. Gives five suggestions for improving…

Problem-solving and creativity measures were administered to 127 gifted New York City school children from grades 4-6, in an attempt to relate these cognitive variables to affective traits of locus of control, self-esteem, and tolerance of ambiguity. No sex differences were obtained on the affective tasks. (Author)

Various experiments demonstrated that the difficulty level of several performance-type intelligence test tasks is determined directly by stimulus and task variables that vary the information to be processed. The implications of these findings for intelligence and the problems of an experimental approach to the measurement of intelligence are…

In a sentence-completion task, eighty sixth-grade students were assigned specific difficult goals or general goals ("do your best"). Subjects received one of four levels of monetary incentive. Specific difficult goals produced higher performance than nonspecific across various incentive conditions, and maintained those levels when previously…

After presenting the attributional model, this paper reviews research on individual differences in beliefs about causes of success and failure. Studies illustrating differential performance on achievement-related tasks by individuals who differ in their attributions are reviewed. Causal perceptions of success and failure should be considered, in…

This review of the conceptualization, measurement, sources, and consequences of teacher anxiety suggests that the concept is still at an early stage of development. Further research and theoretical clarification should focus on coping strategies, rather than on the anxiety experience per se, because a reduction in anxiety state may not necessarily…

From research findings on job design and redesign, the authors conclude that all individuals may not approve job enrichment programs which may actually decrease job satisfaction. Although job satisfaction may increase with age, individual differences and other variables make research results inconclusive. (MF)

A semantic differential related to the theoretical orientation of a university counselor training program was given to 201 students who had reached the practicum level of the program. Eleven factors were significant. Six significant correlations were found between counselor grade and factor scores while one significant correlation was found…

Reviews psychometric and experimental studies of performance differences on serial memory tasks between skilled and less skilled readers. Offers basic criticisms of the psychometric approach and discusses the experimental research within the context of a general model of short term memory. (AA)

Describes a study which measured effects of English school childrens' intelligence, creativity, and academic achievement upon socialization within stratified, mixed-ability groupings. Findings indicated that school environments may have differential socialization influences on students that are independent of school stratification structures.…

Contrary to prediction, failure feedback increased the performance of all fifth graders involved in this study, whether they had scored high or low on a locus of control measure. (Ed./JD)

Examines when the male-female performance differential first appears in terms of students' ability to grasp basic economic concepts. Sex-linked differences in learning seem to begin between the late high school years and the sophomore year of college. The authors believe the differences are cultural in origin and they present several hypotheses.…

The reward structure of a classroom refers to the rules under which students are reinforced for academic achievement. Various types of interpersonal reward structures--competitive, cooperative, and independent--are discussed. Studies of the effects of rewards on performance, attitudes and interpersonal relations are reviewed, emphasizing…

Seven easily obtainable background variables were used as predictors of academic achievement in a sample of fourth grade pupils. A combination of five of these variables yielded high predictive validity. (Author/JKS)