This study analyzed data from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) taken by high school seniors between 1975 and 1986. Its purpose was to study trends in the numbers, test scores, and other characteristics of examinees planning to major in mathematics, science, and engineering, and to compare these data with comparable data from examinees planning…

American study programs in China were assessed, based on interviews with American undergraduate or graduate students studying or doing research at various China institutions during the 1980-81 academic year and with Chinese administrators from the institutions. Four channels exist through which American students can arrange placement in China:…

The relationship among key social/psychological variables (self-esteem, locus of control, social isolation, perceptions of role models) and achievement among migrant children was examined, using December 1980 data obtained from 1,004 seventh grade students (515 males/489 females) from a large school district in Hidalgo County in the Texas Lower…

The direction and magnitude of sex-related differences in science attitude and achievement have been topics of conjecture and research. Reported here are findings of a quantitative synthesis of completed research relating to these issues. A comprehensive literature search revealed 83 "articles" (journal publications, books, unpublished…

Regional novels constitute an important component for research in rural education because they deal with relationships between people and place and with the impact of schooling on human life. Selected incidents from Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1960) and LaFarge's "Laughing Boy" (1929) are congruent with contemporary research…

Problem areas for the Mexican American female (Chicana) in higher education were investigated and compared to those of the Mexican American male (Chicano). A specific objective was to document the heterogeneity and complexity of the Chicana population and the corresponding variation in educational experiences. An executive summary and full report…

The state-of-the-art review addresses the problems faced by rural education in the area of curriculum development and suggests that mechanisms for curriculum development may need to be different or redefined to allow rural schools to operate at their maximum potential. The report looks at the positive and negative factors influencing rural…

The accessibility of higher education to women and minorities was studied, with a focus on the University of California, Berkeley. Information was also obtained on the University of California system, the California State University system, and the community college system. In order to provide comparative information for Quebec, Canada, access of…

Examining the economic status of Native women in Alaska, this report compares the economic well being of Native women to other women in the state and nation, looks at factors contributing to their economic status, and makes positive action recommendations. Based on 1970 and 1980 census data, chapter I analyzes the 50% increase of Alaska Native…

Rural areas' population growth, location, level of economic activity and social well-being depend less on natural resource endowments than on such factors as transportation, communication, labor force characteristics, and urbanization. General causes of the 1970's urban-to-rural migration included fewer changes in the structure of agriculture,…

A five-year project that used evidence from a variety of disciplines and cultures to develop a framework to help educational policymakers identify ways of achieving the full range of human potential in a given population is described. The project sponsor is an international non-profit institution dedicated to the cause of disadvantaged children…

College enrollments and degree attainment of minorities are reported, along with the role of minority institutions in the education of black students, the retention of high school and college minority students, and academic employment of minority Ph.D.s. In addition, the problem of using data that aggregate all minority groups is discussed.…

In 1983-84, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) administered a 15-task writing assessment in grades 4, 8, and 11. The tasks involved informative, persuasive, and imaginative writing, and were evaluated at one of four levels of success: unsatisfactory; rudimentary or minimal performance; satisfactory; or detailed and controlled…

Data obtained from interviews with 1,804 non-institutionalized Hispanic elderly (age 55 and over) were analyzed to determine what factors best predict this group's use of informal mental health support (i.e., spouse, relatives, and friends). The study was a secondary analysis of data collected in 1979-80 using a national sample stratified by…

A study examined the extent to which formal and informal policies, practices, and activities intended to increase vocational enrollments and completion exist in New Hampshire's high schools. Data were collected from interviews with six vocational staff members at each of five sites, a survey given to administrators at 28 sites, and responses to…