From a sample of 6,000 pupils in a Tennessee school district, this study relates the variables of gender, social class, and number of parents in student households to achievement on a norm-referenced test. Charts presenting data findings comprise three-fourths of the document. Investigation was motivated by studies that connect student learning…

This catalog was designed to provide performance objectives and performance guides associated with current occupational information relating to the job of homemaker. The performance objectives and guides were developed following a literature review and a survey of random samples of homemakers in the five participating states (Alabama, Florida,…

Although student evaluation of instruction has been shown to produce reliable results over class averages, considerable within-class variability exists that has not been investigated. This study looked at examples of student evaluations in which students diametrically differed in their evaluation of the same instructor. Patterns were noted. A…

A variety of explanations for the decline of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores over the past several years are examined. Studies undertaken by the College Board indicate that the SAT score decline has not eroded the test's validity, that the decline is not an artificial by-product of score-equating techniques, and that it is not to any…

Variations in classroom instruction were observed, and related to student achievement in reading and mathematics. A six-construct model was applied to data on students and instructional practices in sixty second grade classrooms at nine geographic sites, seven of which were sponsored by Project Follow-Through. The constructs were: (l) initial…

Grade inflation is discussed, and some solutions are offered for the grade inflation problem which exists in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. Examples illustrate the existence of grade inflation at several colleges and universities, as well as at the high school level. Various reactions--involving college…

The Advisory Panel on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Score Decline contends that many factors have contributed to the drop in scores on the SAT and many other tests. The research evidence and theory about three social motives that could be expected to play some role in test performance and academic functioning are examined: the motives for…

This study addresses two questions: (1) Why do fourth grade students in Rhode Island perform better on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) than eighth grade students?, and (2) Why do Rhode Island parochial students perform better on the ITBS than public school students? The examination of both questions focused on three areas: school setting…

The effects of amount of exposure to response/outcome independence and teacher expressiveness on student ratings of the instructor, achievement test performance, and attribution items were studied. University students completed an aptitude test that provided contingent or noncontingent feedback and varied in length (short, medium, or long). All…

This report describes a strategy for planning vocational education. Discussed first are areas comprising the context for planning vocational education, including the relationship between education and work, the dimensions and stages of work adjustment, and the mission and performance requirements of vocational education (with attention to desired…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 13 titles deal with the following topics: a teacher training project offering a structured reading program as a model for the teaching of reading; relationships between students in traditional and competency-based reading methods…

Ninety subjects completed identical simulated maintenance tasks under two experimental conditions. In the high job structural attribute condition subjects were told that the task was high in learning new skills, responsibility, feedback, and task identity; while in the low job structural condition they were told the opposite. Results indicated the…

A LEARNING MODEL TO IDENTIFY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DIFFICULTY OF A PROBLEM ITEM WAS SUPPORTED EMPIRICALLY, AND INDICATED THAT THE NUMBER OF STEPS REQUIRED TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT VARIABLE IN PREDICTING BOTH ERROR PROBABILITY AND RESPONSE LATENCY. THE MODEL, IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH DIFFERENTIAL PREDICTIONS OF DIFFICULTY IN…

The University of Minnesota's Math Anxiety Program consisted of four components: (1) the diagnostic clinic tested the participants' mathematical ability and level of math anxiety and provided an overview of the program; (2) three courses, from arithmetic to college algebra, with specially selected instructors were made available to the…

To investigate the relationship between teachers' classroom behaviors and the self-concepts of pupils, four tasks were undertaken: (1) to present information; (2) to provide a perspective; (3) to design organizational schema; and (4) to furnish a conceptual framework for the research. The material categorized as information consists of research…