The effects on the learning process of the strategies of contextualization, personalization, and provision of choices for enhancing students intrinsic motivation were studied with 72 fourth and fifth graders in one control and four experimental conditions. All three strategies produced increases in student motivation and in engagement in learning.…

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) norms based on 508 child custody litigations are presented. Defensive underreporting and self-favorability were often exhibited along with an elevation on the Over-Controlled Hostility Scale. Results highlight the importance of context specificity in personality assessment. (SLD)

Compared two experimental teaching strategies (hierarchical knowledge structuring and semantical networking) with traditional worksheet approaches used in (German) fourth-grade classes studying the mallard's adaption to its environment. Findings showed no significant effect favoring the experimental approaches over the traditional method. However,…

Discusses the relationship between authority and the interactional practice of teaching. Also reviews the importance of context in understanding how learning is realized through language. Ways to recognize and infuse complexity into school-based practices, concerns about culturally/linguistically diverse students, and the need to avoid a "zero-sum…

Focuses on two primary meanings of the term interaction in the second-language (L2) context: face-to-face interaction in which two or more people create meaning, and the creative interaction between the reader and the text. Argues that many claims related to the value of L2 spoken interaction can apply equally well to L2 reading. (94 references)…

Examined eighth graders' approaches to contextual word problems. Subjects were observed in two situations: open-inquiry field studies that included production of convincing representations (inscriptions) to support students' findings and; word problems with stories and student-produced data based on field studies. Analysis of mathematical…

Emphasizes that language taught in a meaningful context is readily acquired by second-language learners and suggests that stories from the oral tradition of any Spanish-speaking cultures are excellent sources of material for language in content. These stories may be used to supplement traditional textbooks and readers. (13 references) (Author/CK)

Describes how decision makers utilize information, and synthesizes models of organizational information and communication between science and government. Usage is affected by interrelationships of several variables: decision makers' environments; organizational and individual characteristics; and character of the information. Variations in usage…

Provides the results of a survey administered to high school students (n=379) in which they select the most and least preferred out of 6 learning situations. Results indicate that student preferences are largely influenced by their perceptions of the relevance and the psychological effects which such contexts would have. Contains 20 references.…

This study of over 1300 high school students examined gender differences in the social context of drinking associated with 4 alcohol problem behaviors (high intensity drinking, binge drinking, driving while intoxicated, and riding with an intoxicated driver). Student surveys revealed significant multivariate interaction effects between gender and…

Discusses "cued shadowing," during which subjects listen to pairs of words or sentences and repeat a target word signalled by a cue. Rapid semantic and grammatical priming effects have been observed with this technique, both with word and sentence contexts and at different positions within sentence contexts, in normal children and adults, and in…

Proposes and tests a structural model of socialization factors possibly related to the successful completion of probationary teaching. Variables included individual demographics, professional socialization, organizational context, and teaching performance. Results of the LISREL covariance analysis supported the proposed model's construct validity.…

Discusses the similarities in learning outcomes from two very different environments: a research group and a problem-solving course. Provides examples that characterize the two environments and that point to similarities in outcomes. Speculates about why such similarities exist. (DDR)

Addresses the application of corpus resources and research methods, through concordance programs, to vocabulary study in second-language programs. The article attempts to demonstrate that a corpus linguist's use of his access to large quantities of data to observe the relational and distributional properties of linguistic phenomena can be usefully…

Discusses major strengths and weaknesses of career development practice. Strengths include helping individuals adapt to changing environments, a solid theoretical framework, effective assessment tools and technology, and a clear professional identity. Areas of weakness include lack of integration of contextual factors, poor communication between…