Discussion of information visualization and computer graphics focuses on a study that contrasted performance in three dimensional (3D) and two dimensional zooming interactively (2.5D) virtual worlds for people with differing levels of spatial and structure learning ability. Suggests implications of individual differences for the usability and…

High school students with (n=52) and without (n=49) learning disabilities (LD) completed a self-concept scale and survey rating their own academic skills. Despite reporting significantly lower academic self-concepts, students with LD overestimated their academic skills relative to the ratings of others and to their actual test performance.…

Examined whether there is evidence of gender bias in the awarding of institutional aid to students, controlling for academic ability and need. Found no direct evidence of bias when examining the relationship between student characteristics and aid, but when examining institutional characteristics, indirect implications suggested that gender was…

An integration of conceptions about attributional antecedents with those of attributional consequences is applied to achievement behavior. Results reveal that participants who were induced to make realistic attributions spent more time on tasks for which they had demonstrated high ability than on tasks for which they had demonstrated low ability.…

Examined differences among classes in academic and psychosocial aspects of school adjustment. Multilevel analyses showed that 83.5% of the variance was at the child level, 10.3% at the class level, and 6.2% at the school level. Social structure indices yielded significant correlation indicators of social interaction and intellectual competence and…

Examined to what extent students' ability, achievement striving, and situational optimism influence performance outcomes and the interactive effects of ability and achievement striving, as well as ability and situational optimism, on student performance outcomes. Found that achievement striving and situational optimism may be as important as…

Physical education was viewed by 473 undergraduates as the least difficult degree to earn and the least prestigious. Such attitudes may be based on misunderstandings about the discipline, and physical educators must take an active role in educating the public and further delineating the separation between athletics and physical education. (IAH)

Results indicated among children in low social competence at initial clinic visit, higher levels of subsequent negative life events predicted higher levels of somatic complaints at follow-up. Life events and somatic complaints were also related to characteristics exhibited by patient's parents. (53 references) (BF)

Replication and extension of previous research linking child age to referral for psychological services indicates younger students were referred more often, the referral pattern could not be explained by competency differences, Caucasian students were referred at higher rates, and a trend linking the proportionate referral rate of students…

Experimental groups used four decision-making techniques--reverse brainstorming (RS), dialectical inquiry (DI), devil's advocacy (DA), and consensus--in evaluating writing assignments. Control group produced a better quality document. Student reaction to negative features of RS, DI, and DA were not significant. (SK)

As classrooms are restructured, practitioners must consider the short- and long-term effects of grouping decisions. All children need to be with children of the same interests and abilities during part of every school day. Mixed ability groups are most suitable for projects that cut across curricular areas. (LB)

In this study of developmental precursors of adolescent behavior, the developmental trajectories of 435 boys from ages 3 through 15 were traced for selected correlates of delinquency (childhood antisocial behavior, low verbal intelligence, reading difficulty, and family adversity). (PCB)

Used a retrospective chart review to investigate psychological and academic impairments in college students not previously diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), comparing them with a control group. Results indicated that students with ADHD had significantly lower mean grade point average, more academic problems, and more…

Proposes changing the direction of studies on advanced development (giftedness), using Feldman's and Vygotsky's research to argue that the focus should be on ordinary parts of life which contribute to extraordinary achievement. The paper suggests the importance of studying people within a field over time, examining the individual and the situation…

Examines research on psychological and social aspects of gifted education, highlighting: students' psychological and social needs, school-based issues common to gifted students, and social coping strategies gifted students employ at school. An information management model is discussed for anticipating and understanding gifted students'…