First grade teacher interests in four subject areas as measured by the Strong Vocational Interest Blank were compared to their students' interests in those areas as measured by the Survey of School Attitudes. A relationship was found only in the natural science subject area. (JKS)

Examines interpretations of a definition of the social studies propounded by Wesley in 1910. In an interview with Wesley in 1974, the authors discussed what is useful knowledge, what utility knowledge can have in a democracy, and what knowledge teachers should transmit. Finds that Wesley's definition has been oversimplified, especially in terms of…

Traces the development of medical sociology, which deals with sociological perspectives in relation to health care, from trends in Europe and the United States beginning in the early 20th century through the present. Available from: Unipub, Box 433, Murray Hill Station, New York, New York 10016. (AV)

Characterizes the crisis in history instruction as resulting from low student interest and high unemployment among historians. Suggests actions by historians which might mitigate this crisis, including expanding course offerings to include subjects of global interest, offering innovative courses, stressing basic patterns of human experience, and…

A study to identify characteristics of a policy analyst essential to his performance analyzed curriculum and academic disciplines represented in schools of social policy. All programs require workshops or internships and economics and statistics. Seventy-five percent require political science and 75 percent quantitiative methods. (The Rand Corp.,…

The history and dominant themes of women's studies are outlined, and its directions and research agenda for the future are examined. It is concluded that the field must develop its understandings but not lose its unique perspective on women's experience. (MSE)

The role of theory and science for communication disorders is discussed. It is argued that communication disorders form a unique discipline within behavioral science. Ways in which the discipline can use theory for research and therapy are suggested. (Author/KM)

Extant research was explored for factors that might mediate either positive or inverse associations between research productivity and teaching effectiveness and those that possibly could be common causes of them. Pedagogical practices and dispositions of faculty members, as well as certain course or class characteristics were examined. (Author/MLW)

Describes curriculum development in West German information science programs that integrates subject specialty knowledge with information science and technology. An overview of the West German educational system is given and a program with subject specialties in chemistry and electrical engineering at the Fachhochschule Darmstadt is explained.…

Five projects intended to help develop national indicators of undergraduate learning in different disciplines use a variety of strategies and are reminders that reflective self-consciousness is an important characteristic of teaching faculty in any discipline. (MSE)

The factors that played a major role in the rapid improvement of academic departments at eight major research universities are explored. Five improvement strategies are identified: departmental hiring practices, funding, leadership, strategic planning, and overall institutional reputation. (Author/MLW)

The emerging field of composition research grew up around writing instructors hired to teach required courses in freshman composition. Scholars are interested in studying how writers compose, what they intend to express, and who they believe they are writing for. (MLW)

Presents a measure of the relative standing of professional journals in an aggregated journal citation matrix. The results of the application of the measure to a network of geographic journals during two time periods are reported and discussed. (35 references) (Author/CLB)

The high and rising higher education enrollment rate for women in most Western nations is discussed, and problems in educational equity relating to uneven enrollment rates in various disciplines are noted. (MSE)

A table showing data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates cites the following: sex, citizenship, marital status, percent with bachelor's degree in same field as doctorate, planned postdoctoral study, planned postdoctoral employment, primary postdoctoral work, and region of employment after doctorate. (MLW)