A modified version of the Approaches to Studying Inventory was administered to students in an innovative medical school. It was found that, although the inventory was not predictive of academic success for this group, it might be helpful in student counseling, and student responses were consistent with the school's philosophy. (LRW)

This study investigates whether a linear factor analytic method commonly used to evaluate violation of the item response theory (IRT) unidimensionality assumption is sensitive to measurable curricular differences within a school district and to examine the possibility of differential item performance for groups of students receiving different…

Analysis of 1,796 student ratings of clinical instruction showed students link teacher effectiveness to (1) an instructor meeting teaching responsibilities; (2) instructor behavior conducive to clinical learning; (3) technical competence; and (4) instructor enjoyment of his/her job. (MSE)

Because an instructor's first interaction with students on the first day of class can determine the success of those to follow, it is important to explore what happens in a classroom setting before offering prescriptions on how to best handle situations in that setting. To understand how students' responses to specific attributes related to…

Values education has recently been high on the political agenda in many countries, including the Netherlands. Using a theoretical framework based on traditions in several academic areas, this study examined attitudes of Dutch parents, teachers, and secondary school students regarding moral education goals and the division of moral tasks between…

Reviews evolution of workfare programs during the past 25 years. Summarizes both positive and negative outcomes of such programs, and identifies some key issues and unanswered questions resulting from these outcomes. Suggests a more viable direction for welfare reform in the areas of child care responsibility, balance of rights and obligations,…

Psychometric evaluation of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) is reported. Factor analyses indicated the presence of a stable factor structure for both social skills and problem behaviors scales. Reliability studies indicated the PKBS has adequate-to-strong stability. Explorations of within-scale relationships yielded evidence…

The Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) was subjected to exploratory factor analysis in 1,047 students (including college undergraduates, high school students, and middle school students). Factor structures were similar for males and females. Recommends the MAS be used in conjunction with other measures that assess students' feelings and beliefs with…

Evaluates changes in social background, resource constraints, and labor market incentives as possible explanations for differences in the educational expectations between black, and white high school students during 1980-92. Maintains that a consideration of relative direct costs and improvement of social background is necessary to explain these…

Reports on a study that examined the nature of vocal jazz improvisation and the factors that influence achievement in improvisation. Participating subjects performed two jazz improvisation tasks that were measured for tonal, rhythmic, and expressive items. Correlating independent variables included jazz theory knowledge, jazz experience, and…

Standardized sensory, perceptual, linguistic, intellectual, and cognitive tests were administered to 470 entering first graders. Factor analysis found four factors, which were reading related skills, visual cognition, verbal cognition, and speech processing. Cluster analysis identified nine profiles. The strongest predictors of later reading and…

Proposes a four-factor model of attitudes toward computers and describes a factor analysis conducted with preservice teachers to test its validity and reliability. Sex differences, degree of comfort or anxiety with computers, liking for computers, and value placed on computers are examined, and implications for further research are suggested.…

For 241 normal and 132 gifted fifth graders and 113 normal and 117 gifted seventh graders in Ottawa (Ontario), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses investigated the factorial validity of the Perceived Competence Scale for Children (PCSC). Overall, the PCSC demonstrated sound psychometric properties. (SLD)

Confirmatory factor analysis of data from a portion of a long-term study provided evidence for two components of math anxiety for 298 male and 266 female 6th through 12th graders. The components related to negative affective reactions and cognitive aspects. Age and gender differences were significant. (TJH)

Constructed and tested three inventories of teacher beliefs: Teachers' Beliefs About Parents, Teachers' Beliefs About Administrators, and Perceptions of Parental Beliefs Concerning Teachers. Inventories were completed by 462 elementary, secondary, and special education teachers. All measures seemed to possess reasonable construct validity and…