Data from a 1997 national survey of 464 two- and four-year colleges and universities concerning freshman characteristics, opinions, activities, and goals are reported. Information includes age, ethnic background, religion, academic record, college distance from home, parent background, college planning and choice, educational goals, career goals,…

Describes techniques used in a British secondary school classroom to encourage collaborative learning to promote science while addressing sexism and racism in the classroom. Group work practices were extended to include students monitoring of themselves and their interactions, with feedback and discussion of the social processes. (SLD)

Discusses efforts to bring a multicultural perspective to a 200-level course on the sociology of health and aging as a means of addressing broader multicultural curriculum transformation issues. The course is constructed around students' examination of four basic questions concerning their own experiences with exclusion and entitlement. (MJP)

Outlines and describes examples of student resistance to a feminist perspective in a sociology of the family course. The examples were: characterizing information as "male-bashing," ignoring structural forces, and blaming the victim. Notes the almost passive acceptance of feminist perspectives when articulated by a guest male professor. (MJP)

Two focus groups of high-risk inner-city African-American and Caucasian adolescent girls (15 to 16 years old) were organized to explore issues related to sexual decision making. Transcripts of the groups were reviewed for recurrent themes and viewpoints. Verbatim examples are presented. Participants reported pressures to have sex and a lack of…

Four studies tested the hypothesis that alcohol decreases the likelihood of condom use during casual sex. Results are consistent with "alcohol myopia," the notion that alcohol decreases cognitive capacity, such that intoxicated people are more likely to attend to the most salient cues in a situation. Provides strong evidence that alcohol…

A recent American Council on Education report finds a substantial difference in degree attainment at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels between African American men and women, with women earning proportionately more degrees. Some trace the situation to educational problems among black males beginning in elementary school, at about…

A study (n=1,060 students) found that white college students' sex and major were significantly related to precollege attitudes toward diversity on campus, and gender and major separately predicted participation in a racial or cultural awareness workshop. Father's education, family income, and degree aspiration were also considered as variables.…

A study of employment patterns and starting salary gaps among male and female business graduates during the 1980s found that while both employment conditions and earnings improved for women, the gender gap in starting salaries increased during the decade. Of college-acquired student characteristics, only academic achievement persisted as a…

The relationship between teachers' perceptions of students' foreign-language (FL) academic skills and affective characteristics and their performance on tests of native language skill and FL aptitude was examined. Comparisons of final grades and teachers' perceptions by skill level groups found significant overall effects when grouping students by…

Philosopher educator describes how she presents multiple perspectives in her teaching to create learning situations that instill a sense of wonder and curiosity. She is encouraged by increased recognition of the relationships among learning, social action, and social justice, and the recognition of the consciousness of different children.…

Tested the basic hypothesis that failure experiences at school increase the likelihood of aversive parent-child interaction after school. Subjects were 254 elementary school students. Found that children who rated more academic failure events at school described parents as more disapproving after school, but this effect was only partially mediated…

This study examined how pharmaceuticals were dispensed in one Florida county's public elementary, middle, and high schools and in six private schools. Surveys indicated that of 28,134 children surveyed, 1,016 received 5,411 doses of medication from school personnel, who were not necessarily health care personnel. Methylphenidate was the most…

Describes the application of the Positive Peer Culture (PPC) treatment methodology to a population of troubled girls in a residential setting. The peer group utilizes naturally occurring problems as vehicles to teach girls about errors in behavior and thinking. Community activities are used to practice newly obtained prosocial behaviors. (LSR)

Survey of 67 bachelor-level human service workers measured aspects of job satisfaction and intent to pursue graduate education. Results support the hypothesis of stronger intention among satisfied senior practitioners (in jobs for three or more years) than among dissatisfied junior workers. Secondary findings include other explainers of intention,…