Central Michigan University provides an individualized bachelor's degree program for adult students. A study of participants revealed common student characteristics and five factors predicting academic success: age at entry, grade point average, credits transferred or experientially earned, learning options used, and attitude toward staff. (MSE)

A study at the University of Texas Health Science Center of psychological characteristics and their relationship to future performance and competence of various health professionals is discussed. The objectives of this study were to describe the faculty and doctor of pharmacy students and compare their psychological profiles with a normative…

Examines differences in course performance and attitude of college students identified by the Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale as external and those identified as internal. An interaction was found between the type of reinforcement expected, type of pacing treatment, and course performance. References are included. (Author/BK)

A 22-item instrument (My Classmates) was developed to measure fifth-sixth graders' perceptions of their peer relationships, and administered to 621 students. The instrument's reliability and validity were supported. Group membership was found to be related to certain student characteristics. (The questionnaire is appended). (GDC)

The relationship between operativity on Piagetian tasks of number, classification, field dependence-independence, and mathematics achievement was investigated. In grades 2-4, field independence was related to high mathematics achievement. High operativity was related to high achievement in mathematics concepts only in the second grade. (Author/GDC)

The connection between attitudes toward higher education and course evaluation follows from theories of central directive states and communicative balance. Course evaluation is related to: (1) students' and instructors' own and perceived attitudes toward higher education and college teaching, and (2) congruence between these attitudes. (Author/CP)

Data from a standardized reading test and student background information were correlated to determine relationships. Self-assessed reading scores and other data may be used for predicting retention, academic performance, and reading ability. Differences were found between persisters and dropouts on these variables. (Author)

Prior Subject Interest (PSI) predicted student ratings of teaching effectiveness better than any of 15 other student/course/instructor characteristics considered. Instructor self-evaluations of their own teaching effectiveness were also positively correlated with PSI. (Author/RL)

Examines predictors of turnover of female factory workers in a multivariate framework. Findings indicate that organizational, job, and personal characteristics are equally important in explaining turnover. Variables significantly related to turnover are tenure, cycle time, peer leadership, communication flow, training time, family income, and…

Trainees who were attracted to their supervisors were rated as more effective by supervisors, although attraction was not related to clients' perceptions of outcome. A direct style of supervision was related to trainee effectiveness, but on only one of three measures of the dependent variable. (Author)

From 1870 to 1975, three types of school administrators were identified: the plateau administrators who remained at initial entry level assignments; vertical aspirants who actively sought advancement; and place-holders who began as vertical aspirants but for one reason or another were placed in non-decision-making positions. (Author/GDC)

The battery of perceptual and perceptual-motor tests (including one fine and two gross perceptual-motor tasks, and one visual and two auditory perceptual tasks) were useful for prediction of cognitive performance one year later at kindergarten age. However, cognitive achievement in first grade, and even more so in second grade, was best predicted…

The relative magnitudes of R-squared values computed through multiple regression models using grade equivalent scores, raw scores, standard scores, and percentiles as both predictor and criterion variables are compared. Grade equivalents and standard scores produced the highest R-squared values. (Author/JKS)

Student ratings on general, broad questionnaires about instructors are shown to lack validity to the extent that the ratings can be predicted from irrelevant characteristics, such as characteristics that belong to the student, the particular class, or interactions of the student and the class. (Author/JKS)

Primary and secondary teacher-trainees in Queensland were surveyed on their social origins, reasons for choosing teaching as a career, the timing of that choice, and the influence exerted by others. Results indicated that this decision results from the interplay of external influences and inner dispositions. (Author/SJL)