This study was designed to determine the effect of high school physics, the frequency of high school physics laboratory use, and high school mathematics background on the success of students taking first semester physics. Data were obtained from undergraduates (N=248) at Mississippi State University. The final letter grade in the first semester of…

In a study designed to explore principals' problem-solving strategies, 11 highly effective elementary school principals were compared with 11 moderately effective principals from the same three districts. The principals' effectiveness was determined by central office administrators and by application of the "Principal Profile," a measure…

Although the role of humor in relaxation and interpersonal relationships is well documented, its role in increasing performance in the classroom has not been systematically studied. To investigate the effect of appropriately timed humor on performance of a stressful task, 40 college students performed a mathematics test under one of four…

To investigate age, sex, and situational differences in choice of consultant, a total of 192 students--24 male and 24 female students at 8, 11, 14, and 17 years of age were interviewed to obtain responses to three hypothetical problems: impersonal, interpersonal with a peer, and interpersonal with a parent. For each hypothetical problem, subjects…

Previous research has concluded that no reliable individual differences have been demonstrated in goal-setting studies, probably because the goals were assigned rather than set by the individuals. This study examined individual's self-set goals, certainty, and task performance of two work periods in a group setting as a function of Type A behavior…

Although scholars have tried to identify validity as a single characteristic, an alternative path treats validity as a confluence of characteristics, a multifaceted concept that is a product of the function of argument in a given context. From a functional perspective on argumentation, validity criteria change as the speaker's purpose is redefined…

A study determined if anaerobic power, isometric strength, and isometric endurance are affected by the menstrual cycle and if endurance trained females and untrained females are affected in the same manner on these performance parameters. Subjects were healthy, normally menstruating females, ages 18-34 years who were classified as either trained…

A study was conducted to determine the correspondence between the effects of task purposes and goal-setting strategies on preschoolers' unmonitored compliance, and their internal attributions for compliance. A total of 97 preschool children of 4-5 years of age participated in two 5-minute compliance tests that employed a resistance-to-distraction…

This study of athletes seeks to determine that a relationship exists between the mind and the body. It presents negative psychological factors that may arise and shows possible ways to enhance athletic performance through psychological techniques. The central part of the study is an annotated bibliography covering selected literature on these…

Focus of evaluation using a normative social criterion was contrasted with evaluation with a more task-oriented criterion. Fifty female and 28 male high school students played a game constructing words from a letter matrix. One-third of the subjects anticipated performance evaluation with respect to a performance criterion; one-third was offered a…

To investigate the effects of task difficulty level and control over the level of difficulty on children's intrinsic motivation to play, attempts and successes were recorded as 80 four-year-old children played a bean bag game. The object of the game was to hit a target from one of five distances. Each of the distances constituted a different level…

This study proposed that performing a low-demand secondary task would improve a subject's control of attentional processes on a primary task of importance. Subjects were 60 public elementary school students 9, 10, or 11 years of age. Of these, 30 had been identified as learning disabled and 30 had been identified as non-learning-disabled. Each…

Manipulation of bureaucratic structure could be a way to increase the achievement of students, particularly those from lower social class backgrounds. (Author)

Reviews the literature on the relationships between academic performance in higher education and motivation and study habits. (Editor/PG)

Competency based education is particularly suited to adult education programs because adults often possess practical experience which may enable them to demonstrate sufficient specific competencies without taking formal coursework. While this approach to adult education programs has several advantages, seven problem areas should be carefully…