Early entrance from secondary school to university, based on the principle of optimal match, is a rare but highly effective educational strategy for many gifted students. The University of Washington offers two early entrance options for gifted adolescents: the Early Entrance Program for students prior to age 15, and the UW Academy for Young…

A participatory research approach was used to determine the extent to which nonformal education (NFE) programs have contributed to the empowerment of women living on four Caribbean islands. Twelve agencies/organizations/providers on the islands of Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent that have offered NFE programs to women between 1992…

A study examined the incentives and disincentives for employer involvement in established work-based learning (WBL) programs. Data were collected from the following sources in March-April 1995: case studies of selected programs offering WBL opportunities in Boston (Massachusetts) and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania); telephone interviews with 21 WBL…

In spring 1992, Florida's Pensacola Junior College mailed the Two-Year College Form of the American College Testing (ACT) Student Opinion Survey to the 557 students who had earned an Asociate in Arts degree (AA), an Associate in Science degree, or certificate in fall 1991. The survey sought information on the graduates' reasons for selecting PJC,…

In an effort to encourage student participation and instructor-student communication in a large introductory psychology course, an approach was developed to call on students involuntarily to answer critical thinking questions rather than factual questions. To address the possibility that students would be anxious and intimidated about speaking in…

Students (n=424) who transferred to a large public urban university in fall 1989 were surveyed at the time of their matriculation and 131 students were surveyed again in March 1993 to discover their perceptions of 12 institutional characteristics. Characteristics included quality of academic programs, variety of courses and programs, faculty…

This study examined the academic advising process at Boise State University (Idaho) prior to implementation of "signatureless registration" (advisor's approval not necessary for course registration) and other changes in the advising process. Students (n=890) in 21 undergraduate classes responded to a survey about their advising…

A study was done to determine student attitudes towards their experience in the practicum component of the graduate program at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work (UCONN). The program lasts 2 years and the hypothesis was that students had the same level of satisfaction for both years. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 248…

In November 1993, the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) surveyed the child care community to determine whether the Federation's services, publications, and programs were relevant to the providers of child care in Canada. A questionnaire was sent to Federation members, Canadian child care centers, the family day care network, and organizations…

Researchers have found differences in client perceptions of and judgments about experienced and inexperienced counselors. To investigate the correlates of client satisfaction in two counseling centers, one staffed primarily by trainees (CC-T) and one staffed primarily by professionals (CC-P), 464 questionnaires (107 or 26 percent at CC-T; 357 or…

An ecosystem approach to evaluation attempts to involve those responding to the evaluation in the process of redesigning the environment. To evaluate residence hall life at Indiana University in 1983 using an ecosystem approach, 799 systematically selected college residence hall inhabitants (58% female, 49% freshmen) completed a questionnaire…

Opinions of 681 University of Nebraska at Omaha students concerning college services and the college environment were surveyed, and results compared with four previous surveys. The survey utilized the standardized instrument developed by the American College Testing Corporation along with a series of local information questions. The survey's four…

An action research project was undertaken to understand how the Writing Laboratory at Reading Area Community College (RACC) defines and accomplishes its work, what faculty and students expect of the lab, and how they make use of it. The investigation sought to foster discussion and reflection on the appropriate role and staffing of a college…

The involvement of women and minorities in the accrediting process was studied nationally. The experiences of women and minorities who participated in the accrediting process were surveyed, including perceived or actual empowerment derived from participation. Views of accrediting agencies and member institutions were also assessed. Respondents…

A study was conducted (1) to determine the career patterns of graduates in agricultural education from the University of Florida during the period 1975-1985 and (2) to assess their perceptions of the effectiveness of selected aspects of the program in agricultural education in preparing them for careers. Questionnaires were developed and sent to…