Scientific advancements in cognitive science and instructional technology extend the behaviorally-oriented learning paradigm of instructional design and management in three major areas: (1) analysis of information-to-be-learned; (2) means of evaluating learners; and (3) linkage of learning theory to instructional prescriptions. The two basic types…

In this study, 242 adolescents were asked to indicate the likelihood that they would seek support from their mother, father, closest sibling, and closest friend when confronted with each of 24 common concerns. Mean scores were generated in eight specific and three general categories for all four target individuals. Mean scores for target…

Fifteen boys and 15 girls were interviewed during their seventh, ninth, and twelfth years about a friendship dilemma in which the protagonist had to decide whether to keep a promise given to a friend or to accept an invitation from a third child. Interviews assessed descriptive and prescriptive aspects of the differentiation and coordination of…

The child rearing beliefs of 68 Mexican mothers and preschool teachers were compared. Also investigated were differences in beliefs of mothers in two types of families: the first characterized by interdependent social structures where the actors are closely linked by emotional ties, the second by individualistic social structures where social…

A total of 61 Belgian boys and girls who were 5 and 7 years old participated in an experiment which aimed at enhancing their giving and helping behavior. Treatment basically involved the induction of empathy. Children in the experimental group were told stories by their teacher in which the hero meets secondary characters who are in need and acts…

In developing understanding of social roles, preschool children proceed from an initial awareness of single behavioral categories to the ability to comprehend, first, simple relationships between categories, and second, complex systems of categories. At each developmental level, children show characteristic modes of distortion when faced with…

This article presents a meta-analysis of the effects of examiner familiarity/unfamiliarity on children's performance during individual testing. Data came from 22 controlled studies involving 1489 subjects. In a typical study, the effect of examiner familiarity raised test performance by .35 standard deviations. Differential performance favoring…

The phonemic-based view of teaching second language pronunciation is contrasted with a discourse-based view comprising segmental, voice-setting, and prosodic features. Research is surveyed on first language influence, the acquisition processes operative in second language phonology, psychosocial and individual factors, and the role of instruction.…

This study of 15 comprehensive schools in Scotland showed that the higher the average ability level of a school, the higher was the achievement in English and arithmetic of individual pupils of different levels of ability, even after controlling for effects attributable to the pupils' individual characteristics. (Author/RM)

The author provides staff developers and educational leaders with tools needed to facilitate a workshop or study group, designed around his book. It gives chapter-by chapter activities focused on moral purpose and why it plays such a critical role in changing the context of school leadership. This guide explores in depth: (1) "Changing the…

Judgment is the process of making decisions with incomplete information concerning either the outcomes or the decision factors. Sound judgment that leads to good decisions is an essential skill needed by adventure education and outdoor leadership professionals. Cognitive psychology provides several theories and insights concerning the accuracy of…

This study implemented contextual modifications in a preservice teacher education program to improve teaching and learning. The modifications were designed to increase students' use of deep approaches to learning and reduce their reliance on surface approaches. Because of how the teaching and learning environment was conceptualized, in accordance…

This article summarizes findings and recommendations about how to apply research on teaching and learning to classroom practice presented in "How People Learn: Bridging Research and Practice." Section 1 examines existing links between learning research and education practice. Section 2 highlights the ways that people learn, noting three…

The reasons teachers give for their assessment and grading practices and the factors that influence these practices were studied. Of 200 elementary and secondary mathematics and English teachers who volunteered to participate, researchers selected 60 teachers as representing maximum variation and then interviewed 24. Interview transcripts were…

Evaluations of national prevention programs have found that they are not successful in reducing or preventing drug abuse. Local context must drive the design and development of prevention programs. Context is essential for success, and stereotypes concerning rural areas should be avoided. Local prevention efforts ought to be driven by sound…