In Piaget's developmental psychology the fourth and highest stage of human cognitive development is that of formal operations. The research on formal thought instruments is outlined. This study was designed to construct and validate paper-and-pencil instruments which could be used to select students capable of abstract conceptualization,…

The Kansas City Study of Adult Life developed the concept of Life styles to describe and analyze the general patterns and course of an individual's life, and defined success as the extent to which an individual contributes to, or is a burden to, others' lives. Interviews with 168 people resulted in selected case studies grouped under the life…

A project to reduce teacher-pupil ratios and to provide additional educational materials was a subsection of a Program to Strengthen Early Childhood Education in New York City Poverty Area Schools. The teacher-pupil ratio was reduced to the level of one to fifteen in the first grades and one to twenty in the second grades. Eight dollars was…

This content analysis schedule for the Bilingual Schools Program of the Los Angeles Unified School District presents information on the history, funding, and scope of the project in its second year. Included are sociolinguistic process variables such as the native and dominant languages of students and their interaction. Information is provided on…

It was hypothesized that 1) prospective teachers who have been trained in microplanning will score higher on tests of teacher effectiveness and 2) will not change their attitudes about pupils and teaching in an undesirable direction. Subjects were 20 secondary school social studies majors, 10 who volunteered to take an experimental teacher…

This paper examines the use of content analysis of speech in the objective recording and measurement of changes in emotional and cognitive function of humans in whom natural or experimental changes in neural status have occurred. A brief description of the data gathering process, details of numerous physiological effects, an anxiety scale, and a…

Annotations of 192 recent films which address themselves to subjects of particular interest to women are presented in this reference guide. The guide is intended for use by women's film festivals, consciousness-raising groups, women's studies programs, and guidance programs. Issues considered by the feminists, professional television film crews,…

The handbook, capsulizing much of the growing body of research and writing on conceptual approaches, is designed to provide assistance to elementary teachers in giving students a conceptual perspective for dealing with social studies content. The handbook is arranged in seven sections. After a brief discussion of the rationale for teaching…

Investigated the extent to which three personological variables (age, level of education, and attitude towards television) affect the amount learned from a documentary by adults over 50 years of age. The results indicated that education was the most reliable and important predictor of retention: as education increased, so did retention. (Author/RP)

This study investigated the perceptions of 79 senior special education practicum students regarding the appropriate role of their university supervisor during a field-based experience. Content analysis showed that students perceived two distinct roles for supervisors: provider of evaluative feedback and support person. (Author/JDD)

Systematically determines the current status of the introductory small group communication course at American colleges and universities. Examines specific content areas being taught, pedagogical approaches used, and teaching problems encountered to identify current curricular trends in teaching the course, charting subsequent course modification,…

Reports on a study to determine the effects of the presentation of questions inserted into texts for students in introductory biology. Results indicated that students reading the text with questions at the beginning of the paragraph scored significantly higher on achievement tests than the students reading without questions. (TW)

Discusses the evaluation of "survival texts" for immigrants in terms of the accuracy of the texts' portrayal of immigrants' reality and the extent to which they shape reality. Examples show that frequently the materials' content and communicative structure do not reflect authentic interaction and that they emphasize subservient social roles. (SED)

This book offers a unique perspective on history instruction in the elementary and middle grades. Through case studies of teachers and students in diverse classrooms and from diverse backgrounds, the text shows children engaging in authentic historical investigations, often in the context of an integrated social studies curriculum. The authors…

Children Now is an independent children's advocacy group that promotes solutions to problems facing American children, with particular attention to the needs of those who are poor or at risk. The group provides policy expertise and up-to-date information on the status of children. Children Now's Children and the Media Program works to improve the…