Beliefs about children's performance in mathematics were examined through interviews with mothers and their sixth-grade children in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and in Chinese-American and Caucasian-American groups in the United States. (Author/LMO)

Conducted an inexpensive mental health needs assessment of 520 households in a rural community using volunteer university students as telephone interviewers. Respondents considered situational stressors such as unemployment, financial strain, and alcohol and drug abuse to be community's most pressing mental health problems and believed that…

This test of theory of opinion leadership in a low-income environment addressed three questions: (1) whether opinion leaders exist, their characteristics, and their role in information dissemination; (2) what the information world of this population is; and (3) whether this population views the library as a source of useful information. (EM)

Discusses the benefits of discovery learning, as opposed to a direct, lecture method, and offers 10 discovery strategies, such as playing 20 questions, using the Socratic method, and problem solving. (JC)

An interview with four leaders (L. Brown, A. Halpern, S. Hasazi, and P. Wehman) on the conceptualization and implementation of transition programming for handicapped students focuses on such issues as the role of political factors, the possibility of effective school/adult service agency coordination, the importance of social skills, and emerging…

Surveys of 60 preschool teachers and in-depth interviews with 10 other teachers regarding assessment and instructional decision-making practices with handicapped children revealed that evaluation and monitoring procedures were not used systematically or regularly. Behavioral observations were the most widely used single source of information for…

Attitudes toward their children were assessed in interviews with 357 mothers of nonhandicapped elementary students and 93 mothers of mildly retarded students in Yugoslavia. Child behaviors (academic and social) were assessed through teacher interviews. A markedly stronger relationship between school behaviors and mother attitudes was found for…

To determine the nature of camp for senior citizens, four participant observers (staff members) conducted open-ended interviews with campers at a five-day residential camp in Oregon. Results showed universal satisfaction with the camp experience. Campers valued the wide range of activities, comfortable places to socialize, and staff relations with…

Three chronically ill patients were trained to evaluate the performance of 31 second-year internal medicine house officers based upon: a checklist for the medical data elicited during the medical interview; the process of the interview; and the physical examination technique. (Author/MLW)

Consists of eight articles on the topic of enhancing school (specifically vocational agriculture program) and community relationships. Topics covered include (1) community schools, (2) educational partnerships, (3) student activities, (4) focus group interviews, (5) public relations, and (6) program-principal relationships. (CH)

Presents personal and professional considerations for instructional systems graduates for defining, seeking, and following a career in business and industry. Highlights include defining employment goals, internships, salary considerations, fringe benefits (including moving expenses, vacation and compensatory time, and travel), the importance of…

Describes a student project that requires students to administer a questionnaire on sexual attitudes to family members and age-peers. Since students predict responses before administering the questionnaires, the results can illustrate the differences between actual and perceived generation gaps and other aspects of sexual socialization and value…

Summarizes interviews with adult illiterates enrolled in volunteer reading programs. Reports that no one remembered being read to as a child, and that interviewees recommended phonics, sound work, and word work to improve reading instruction. Emphasizes the importance of self-esteem, and of reading and telling stories to children. (MM)

Describes an inservice teacher workshop implemented specifically to increase the number of teachers conducting environmental education. Presents the workshop objectives and evaluation procedures that were used. Discusses the effects of the workshop on conceptual, logistical, educational, and attitudinal barriers. Gives suggestions for future…

Presents the results of interviews of teachers regarding personal benefits from participation in the program and assessing their personal roles in environmental education (EE). States that most teachers felt that EE was an important part of the school curriculum, that they personally gained from the program, but that EE was not their…