This report describes differences in the employment experiences of high school dropouts and high school completers, taking into account several personal background and education characteristics. Such variables as labor force status, wage rates, type of occupation, job satisfaction, and other job-related activities are compared for two groups of…

The fourth-year update of a longitudinal study examined the progress of the 31 remaining members of 2 classes in the first cohort of a Spanish immersion program and their standard-program monolingual comparison group of 15 students. Achievement gains were measured on standardized tests of mathematics and language skills. Results provided new…

This paper explores the feasibility of neural computing methods such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and abductory induction mechanisms (AIM) for use in educational measurement. ANNs and AIMS methods are contrasted with more traditional statistical techniques, such as multiple regression and discriminant function analyses, for making…

This report updates 1979 studies of European practice in catering training and education. Section 1 provides background. Section 2 describes the structure of West German federal and state government and their respective responsibilities for vocational education and training, including the dual system of apprentice training and the role played in…

A study examined vocational and general education in Great Britain 2 years after a national commission on education issued its recommendations for reforming Britain's system of elementary and secondary education and training. Several concerns were raised regarding the content and application of the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and…

A study examined the knowledge and job skills required of persons employed in air pollution control-related occupations in Germany's public service sector. In all, 18 persons from 11 offices in 10 public institutions were interviewed. In seven cases, two people from the same institution (one performing managerial duties and the other directly…

This study was designed to gain a better understanding of interactive video instruction and its effects on individual learning in high school students in Taiwan. The study had three objectives: (1) to identify students' background information and involvement in computer assisted instruction; (2) to assess whether there is a linear relationship…

This summary report presents major findings of a study comparing repayment of student loans and the impact of educational debt on students' life decisions in 1985 and 1991. A survey was sent to a random sample of approximately 3,000 borrowers during repayment of their student loans in both 1985 and 1991. Useable surveys were received from 628…

A survey of public library users was conducted regarding retrieval results of unassisted user searches in general periodical indexes. The data were analyzed to evaluate the impact or lack of impact of searching a CD-ROM index with loosely-controlled vocabulary and expanded-search capabilities (i.e., InfoTrac-General Periodicals Index) versus a…

This report examines the current demographics of American families and households and how today's families differ from those of the past. Of special interest to educators are those tables providing data concerning children under age 18, i.e., school age children. Specific data from the years 1950, 1970, and 1990 include: (1) the numbers of U.S.…

This study compared reading and writing demands at a city high school and an urban university across the following disciplines: biology, English, history, and political science. Analysis revealed five generalizations concerning high school disciplines: (1) in-class activities and student requirements for courses are tied to the course text which…

This case study focuses on the impact of technology in the Peakview Elementary School (Colorado) which, in order to implement organizational and teaching strategies advocated by the school restructuring reform movement, installed more than 80 networked computers and related technology. The study relied on written surveys and interviews of teachers…

This paper investigates the role of cohesion in oral proficiency testing. This study analyzed the cohesion of oral reports given by 16 Cypriot high school students studying English as a foreign language (EFL) using a modification of M. A. K. Halliday and R. Hasan's rating scale. It then compared the objective cohesion ratings with impressionistic…

Promoting change in civic education means rethinking what are the important aspects to teach about the Constitution, law, and democracy to equip students to be effective and affective citizens. The scope of instruction needs to broaden to include specific comparisons between the U.S. federal system of law and constitutionalism with counterparts in…

The design, administration, revision, and validation of the Southeast Asian Summer Studies Institute proficiency examinations are reported. The examinations were created as parallel language proficiency tests in each of five languages: Indonesian, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. Four tests were developed in each language: multiple-choice…