Differences between proactive and reactive aggression subtypes on self-reported measures of empathy, social competence, and expectation for reward were examined among 433 middle school students (65.4% White, 33.9% Black). As hypothesized, males scored higher on proactive and reactive aggression scales and lower on empathy measures than females.…

Aunts and uncles play special roles in the lives and education of nieces and nephews. They are among the first adults children meet other than parents and grandparents. They are often willing and able to fulfill roles that strengthen the relationship with a niece or nephew, especially if they have never married. The roots of the relationship,…

Purpose: It has been reported that children and adults weight differently the various acoustic properties of the speech signal that support phonetic decisions. This finding is generally attributed to the fact that the amount of weight assigned to various acoustic properties by adults varies across languages, and that children have not yet…

The Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) was designed to complement the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), and is coordinated by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. FSSE (pronounced "fessie") measures faculty members' expectations of student engagement in educational practices that are empirically…

This district report summarizes results from the 2006-2007 through 2008-2009 Austin Independent School District (AISD) staff climate surveys.

Research has illustrated that school counselors "do not" provide Latina/o students with sufficient information about higher education (Immerwahr, 2003; Zalaquett, 2005), high expectations (Martinez, 2003), and individual counseling and guidance (Vela Gude et al., in press). Because school counselors are supposed to play an important role in…

Neural correlates of social-cognition were assessed in 9- to- 17-year-olds (N = 34) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Participants appraised how unfamiliar peers they had previously identified as being of high or low interest would evaluate them for an anticipated online chat session. Differential age- and sex-related activation…

Describes focus groups and studies conducted in an effort to identify and define community college teaching excellence. One of the most compelling findings suggested that both teachers and students perform at a higher level when held to higher expectations. (Contains 24 references.) (NB)

Examined effects of expectancy and nicotine depletion on withdrawal symptoms by giving 109 smokers nicotine gum or placebo. Subjects who believed they had nicotine gum reported fewer physical symptoms of withdrawal, showed less arousal, and smoked fewer cigarettes than did those who thought they had placebo. Actual nicotine content of gum had no…

Investigates the effects of anticipated future interaction on the overall rate of question-asking, the frequency of requests for particular information, and the temporal structure of persons' question-asking. Finds that question-asking strategies did not vary as a function of anticipated future interaction. (MM)

Exposure of 162 prospective teacher trainees to a slide presentation of a Down's syndrome person with or without a functional, age-appropriate curriculum resulted in significant differences on questionnaire items estimating IQ, future earning capacity, best residential environment, label of retardation, appropriate classroom placement, and most…

Gifted students (N=148) in grades four to seven, classified by teachers according to achievement level (below expectations, at expectation level, above expectations), were administered the "Your Style of Learning and Thinking" and "Readiness for Self Directed Learning" self-report questionnaires, with resulting significant main…

Youth did not create the circumstances in which they live, but adults often ignore mediating circumstances and blame and bash youth, instead of providing help and guidance. This is evident in policies and attitudes toward youth that are punitive and harsh in nature. Many adults see youth as a culture to be feared or devalued because the media…

A teacher's atttitude toward his students may well influence their academic performance. (CK)