Students' expectancies for their future economic outcomes, differences in expectancies between ethnic groups, and the relationship of these expectancies to attributions and self-esteem are examined in two studies (Study 1, N=746; Study 2, N=2,130). An ANOVA was used. Study 2 is part of the first wave of a longitudinal study. Results indicate that…

The school experiences of African American male inmates are explored. Nine African American male inmates, ranging in age from 21 to 55, were interviewed regarding their schooling experiences. Interviews were recorded and transcribed to create a text, and themes were uncovered. Themes that describe their schooling experiences were identified. Four…

This study explored children's perceptions of good parenting. An open-ended question "What makes a good parent?" was asked of children aged 8 to 9 years, 14 to 15 years, and 17 to 18 years of age to investigate developmental processes. Adolescents' perceptions were compared to parents' perceptions using the same measure among 14- to…

To elicit some written comments about student views of revision, an English professor surveyed about 100 students in several different composition classes regarding what they would do if given the opportunity to revise a class paper. More than 80% of the responses explicitly mentioned errors in spelling, mechanics, or grammar. Several students…

This study examined the possibility that aspiring parents' and teachers' recalled experience with elementary school subjects affects their academic expectations for young children. The recalled experience of 103 university students majoring in education was measured by questions that asked: (1) how difficult and interesting each subject was for…

This paper briefly outlines the history of gifted education programs and identifies factors working against gifted education. It describes gifted program options and presents arguments for and against each option. The paper then presents the arguments of several critics outside the gifted education field who severely criticize the very presence of…

Experiences gleaned from teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to Soviet Jewish refugees in San Diego, California, revealed many Soviet misconceptions about U.S. culture, as well as a keen intellectual curiosity, and an eagerness for knowledge. Classroom occurrences illustrate the characteristics of this group. Student attitudes and…

Through a Chicago Public School Program fifth-grade students from different cultures and backgrounds were brought together to experience and learn about a forest environment. These urban students (N=269) completed a brief questionnaire about their previous experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding forest resources. Findings indicate…

In contrast to early research (such as Coleman's) that concluded schools could not override influences of the home environment, more current research indicates that schools can make a difference. This paper summarizes those research findings (emphasizing the limitations of the research from the practitioner's perspective) and relates them to new…

Although the effect of teacher expectations on student performance has been well documented, little research has focused on the effect of teacher personality styles on student-teacher interactions. To investigate the effect of teachers' locus of control and their expectations of their own effectiveness on student success, 77 female college…

This literature review briefly lists the findings of studies on effective schools. The findings are organized under the following categories (which correspond to the Indicator of Quality Schools Assessment instrument categories): curricular congruence, assessment, leadership of the principal, high expectations, school wide norms, school climate,…

Self-efficacy is defined as the belief that one can successfully perform a behavior. Self-efficacy theory asserts that self-efficacy expectancies exert powerful influence on behavior and behavior change. The Self-efficacy Scale, which was developed to assess generalized self-efficacy expectations, consists of two subscales: general self-efficacy…

This summary describes events transpiring at 12 regional forums sponsored by the Department of Education after the publication of the National Commission on Excellence in Education's final report, "A Nation at Risk." Attended by over 10,000 participants, the regional forums established the context for a national understanding of the…

Hispanic American youths' educational and career aspirations and expectations and parental influence on these attitudes are the subject of this study. Variables studied include parent status items (occupation, education, income). Comparisons among Hispanic subgroups (Mexican Americans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and other Latins) and among Hispanics,…

This paper presents an overview of systems theory as an introduction to the applications possible to a model of burnout. Literature dealing with burnout is reviewed and shown to be in an early, descriptive stage, with basic concepts largely unchallenged. Meier's (1982) expanded model of burnout, based on current cognitive-behavioral and vocational…