Investigated the importance of assigned versus participative goal setting in defining effective supervisory behavior. Government employees (N=57) were assigned to self-set, participatively set, and assigned goal setting conditions. Results showed no significant difference in goal difficulty between those with participatively set goals and self-set…

The influence of task difficulty on aberrant behavior was investigated with three severely handicapped students (10, 13, and 15 years old). Noticeably higher rates of problem behavior occurred in demand compared to no demand conditions. In addition, there were higher rates of problem behaviors on difficult versus easy tasks. (Author)

Used semistructured interviews to identify memory strategies used by 35 older adults. Asked participants to describe the strategies they would use for various activities. Results indicated (1) the elderly may have limited repertoires of alternative memory strategies, and (2) the types of materials used can significantly affect their performance.…

Fourteen female distance runners were studied to determine factors relating to performance on a 10-kilometer run. Significant relationships between performance factors and race time are discussed. (CJ)

Examines factors influencing goals set prior to recruit training, the relationship between such goals and subsequent performance, and factors influencing the goals set after entering the Marine Corps. Findings suggest that attrition will decline if individuals receive a more realistic account of recruit expectations. Five references are listed.…

The pictorial art work of 13-year-old children was assessed by three experienced art teachers on each of six aspects of artistic performance (color, space, pattern, imagery, affect and composition). A significant interaction was found between field-independence, extraversion, and art measure in their effect on art performance. (Author/SJL)

Presents a conceptual model based on a set of assumptions, focusing on factors that educators can influence, including the interactive effects of these factors on academic performance. Discusses the nine assumptions in detail. (JOW)

Evaluates the current state of research on motivation of behavior as a response to proffered rewards. Most research has evaluated behavior in academic classrooms or laboratory problem-solving groups and has focused on a choice between (1) cooperation where everyone receives a similar reward when a performance standard has been met, and (2)…

Examines the effects of goal structures in relation to the task performance of 141 third-grade children randomly assigned to 47 same-sex triads. (Author/CM)

A survey administered to K-12 teachers indicated that the more teachers know about gifted students and gifted programs, the more likely they are to be positively disposed to having students removed from their classrooms to participate in gifted programs. (Author/CM)

This study examined the use of visual feedback (VF) by typists at various skill levels. Subjects performed typing trials under four conditions: unrestricted VF, VF for response confirmation, VF for response guidance, and restricted VF. Results suggest similar use of visual feedback by typists of different skill levels. (Author/SJL)

A study was undertaken to determine which of nine variables were most related to success in auditory training, using as Ss 43 students at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Findings showed that the single largest contributing factor to postcourse gain was the entering English score. (PHR)

Sixteen measures thought to be related to the intelligibility of speech of hearing impaired children were examined with 42 deaf children (aged 4 to 19). Results indicated that intelligibility of speech was correlated with several parameters not conventionally used in speech assessment (breath control, suprasegmental perception and production,…

Evidence tends to support the individual nature of hypnosis effects and seems to generally limit the appropriateness of hypnotic intervention as an aid in promoting muscular output during physical activity. (JD)

Discusses the need to provide more emphasis on production and less on straight-copy typewriting than in the past. States that production typing suffers from lack of special drills, teaching materials, improved techniques, and standardized performance expectations. Provides suggestions for improvement. (JOW)