This study investigated preservice elementary teacher reasoning ability levels, science anxiety levels, and content achievement in a large midwestern university. Pretest and posttest measures were taken on three dependent variables: (1) reasoning ability (cognitive development); (2) science anxiety; and (3) science content achievement. In…

This document was designed to highlight the activities of a conference dealing with careers in the environmental field. The conference was organized with the intention of helping college students, recent college graduates, and others to learn the realities of various environmental careers from professionals working in the corporate, government and…

The purpose of this guide is to give teachers and supervisors a working knowledge of various approaches to enhancing pupil learning about computer science, particularly through the use of Pascal. It contains instructional units dealing with: (1) computer components; (2) computer languages; (3) compilers; (4) essential features of a Pascal program;…

The purpose of the research was to manipulate two aspects of genetics instruction in order to measure their effects on college, introductory biology students' achievement in genetics. One instructional sequence that was used dealt first with monohybrid autosomal inheritance patterns, then sex-linkage. The alternate sequence was the reverse.…

This volume represents a compilation and organization of more than 400 research efforts reported in 1986. Its objective was to organize the research in such a way that studies or related topics are easy to access by practitioners or researchers. It is organized around four major sections that reflect the process of teaching, learning, and…

This investigation focuses upon the question of: (1) how naive subjects organize and represent knowledge when solving problems; (2) how previous experience of a novice is used in solving a problem; (3) what kinds of information and knowledge are sought as well as overlooked by novices when solving problems; (4) what kinds of strategies novices…

The Division of Science Resources Studies (SRS) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) designs and conducts surveys and supports other data collection activities. This document is a guide to the recurring portions of the SRS data bases, including information on survey design, sample size, and data content. The abstracts found in this guide…

Salaries paid to beginning and experienced scientists, engineers, and technicians employed by industry, academic institutions, and all levels of government are detailed in this report. Both published and previously unpublished salary data from 57 surveys are included to provide a comprehensive picture of current salaries by sex, age, degree level,…

Provided in this book is a critical review of modern biology curricula and teaching methods with particular reference to the advance of knowledge and changes in society. The book consists of an introduction (discussing biology as a subject, attitudes to learning, and values in biology teaching), 12 chapters, and 4 appendices. Teaching/learning…

Factors pertinent to females in American science and mathematics-related disciplines are examined, focusing on explanations for the poorer representation of females, their lower rank, and their seemingly poorer productivity once within the professions. Using a multidisciplinary approach, some of the usual explanations for their poorer showing are…

The findings from content studies of three Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Advanced Tests: Biology, Literature in English, and Political Science were reported. The studies were designed to indicate the degree to which content specified for and included in test forms for these fields is representative of the content actually taught in the…

This module is part of an interdisciplinary program designed to educate the general citizenry regarding the issues of science/technology/society (STS) that have important consequences for both present and future social policies. Specifically, the program provides an opportunity for students to assess the effects of selected technological…

The National Science Foundation (NSF) should be a guiding force in science education and in building public understanding of science and technology transfer issues. The nation's community, junior, and technical colleges, which now enroll 52% of all Americans who go to college for the first time, are eager to work with the NSF to further these…

This study was designed to formulate a predictive equation to identify community college biology students (N=420) who most probably would not succeed in science courses. A College Biology Student Survey (developed for the study), Nelson Denny Reading Test (Form-F), College Guidance Placement (CGP) Arithmetic Test, and An Inventory of Piaget's…

Four Piagetian tasks (bending rods, chemical combinations, balanced beams and lights/switches) were programmed on a microcomputer system to rectify perceived deficiencies in the tasks. These deficiencies included misleading perceptual clues, bias against females, familarity with content and task, and high cost of administration and data…