Two cognitive models of depression have attracted considerable attention recently: Seligman's (1975) learned helplessness model and Beck's (1967) cognitive schema approach. Describes each model and, in two studies, evaluates the assumption that depression is associated with systematic distortion in cognition regarding causal and controlling…

The relative effectiveness of two methods of instruction, orally-presented lessons and a written version of those lessons, was investigated using a post-test, an attitude scale, and time taken for instruction as criteria. (Author/RK)

Experimental procedures for studying enzyme activity using a Spectronic 20 spectrophotometer are described. The experiments demonstrate the effect of pH, temperature, and inhibitors on enzyme activity and allow the determination of Km, Vmax, and Kcat. These procedures are designed for teaching large lower-level biochemistry classes. (MR)

A quick, sensitive method which is adaptable for quantitating periodate consumption in a variety of undergraduate laboratory contexts is described. A laboratory procedure is also given that may be used for measurements of reaction rates as a function of temperature. (MR)

In this section, brief contributed articles on a variety of secondary school science topics appear. (CP)

Suggests use of the planarian D. Dorotocephala, an animal 20 mm in size, in order to provide inexpensive lab experiences for students in large introductory psychology courses. The animal can be used to study perception, memory, behavior modification, and group processes. (Author/AV)

The locus of control of subjects may be the confounding variable affecting the acceptance of motivational cues in intentional-incidental (INT-INC) learning studies, and thus the reason for conflicting results in "funneling effect" (leaning toward intentional learning as a function of motivation) experiments. 96 female college students selected for…

Abt Associates, the firm responsible for the primary analysis of the Follow Through experiment, summarize the findings. Their clearest finding indicates that local circumstances, attitudes, and activities unmeasured by evaluation have much more to do with the effectiveness of Follow Through models, without exception, than do their theoretical…

Discusses the determination of eutectic composition, the mathematics of chemical equilibrium, the wave functions of one-electron orbitals, and the use of pharmacological agents in introductory chemistry courses. (SL)

Describes experiments involving the synthesis of compounds which exhibit pronounced color changes with changes of solvent polarity. (SL)

Provides a listing of articles and papers published in 1976 relating to various fields of biology and presents various biological science activities. (SL)

Provides a series of learning center activities which demonstrate concepts about air. (CP)

Describes six different plants which will respond to various artificial stimuli. (SL)

Presents basic theory of silicon solar cells and discusses their use in experiments in undergraduate teaching laboratories. (SL)

Reviews classroom teaching ideas including burning sugar cube experiments, science library reference materials, and growing salt crystals. (SL)