Investigates the effects of field dependence-independence, gender, previous musical experience, and general music ability on music listening. College students recorded their observations about music excerpts. Weeks later they used these observations to identify the excerpts. Multiple regression analyses examined the contributions of subject…

Three different differential item functioning (DIF) detection methods were used to examine the extent to which items in a mathematics performance assessment functioned differently for matched gender groups from a sample of 1,782 sixth and seventh graders. Implications of the finding that two items were potentially biased are discussed. (SLD)

Describes a National Science Foundation (NSF) project that addresses changing the science curriculum and how science is taught in college classrooms to increase participation of all students in science, especially women. Preliminary results based on qualitative and limited quantitative data suggest that the project is meeting its objectives.…

Using a nationally representative sample of college faculty from a wide array of science disciplines, this study investigates links between organizational conditions and women's representation on college faculties. Results indicate that although the female doctoral labor supply and political constraints are powerful factors in representation,…

Assessed the association of parental discipline and monitoring with early conduct problems of 123 children in a highly disadvantaged, African American sample. Analyses indicated that, after earlier conduct problems were controlled for, coercive parent discipline and poor parental monitoring at age 4.5 predicted age 6 conduct problems. Associations…

A study examining the characteristics of students engaged in service learning and the association between service learning participation and student performance involved 699 college students in an American government course over three semesters. Females and lower-income students were more likely to be service learning participants, and service…

Examines individual and household characteristics that affect the probability of a boy or girl attending and completing primary school in two regions of Ethiopia. Finds that school attendance was related to household wealth, parents' education, and child's nutritional status, while completion was affected more by economic constraints and, for…

A survey of 10 national systems of higher education found that less than 10 percent of professors were women, and the proportion of female professors was negatively related to institutional prestige. This academic "glass ceiling" was related to women's shorter careers, tenure issues during hard times, and women's lower level of academic…

Data from the longitudinal study Monitoring the Future indicate that individuals' work values change substantially from late adolescence through young adulthood, with "average trajectories" of work values suggesting growing realism with age. Work value trajectories were systematically tied to social origin and early experience, with…

Analyzes data from a longitudinal study of high school youth to suggest that involvement in sports often has a strong and positive association with young womens' success in high school science. Associates participation in cheerleading with negative results. Summarizes both the functionalist and conflict theories regarding the purpose of sports.…

Investigated relationships between physical activity and athletic participation and body-size perceptions, diet, and weight-control practice among high school students, noting racial and gender differences. Surveys indicated that diet quality improved and weight-loss attempts increased as physical activity and athletic participation increased.…

Studies the determinants of track placement in Israel, using approximately 4,500 ninth graders. Findings suggest that although ability and academic performance are strong predictors of track placement, it is also significantly affected by student's socioeconomic status (SES), ethnic origin, and gender. Students of higher SES, those of Western…

Demographic projections concerning the shortage of teachers in Canada, their pay scale, the feminization of teaching, the gender gap in salaries, and teacher autonomy have often been incorrect, or correct for the wrong reasons. Instead of relying on demographic predictions, teachers should contemplate who they really want to be professionally,…

Examined how gender, grade level, empathy, and cultural orientation influenced fifth and eighth grade African American students' moral judgements. Students completed a variety of assessments. There was greater endorsement of communalism among girls than boys. Grade was a significant predictor of moral reasoning. The full complement of predictive…

Examined age, gender, ethnicity, self-esteem, physical activity, parental smoking, and socioeconomic status as predictors of smokeless tobacco use among middle-school students. Student surveys indicated that males, Hispanics, and older students were more likely to be current smokeless-tobacco users. Other influential factors were low self-esteem…