A recent article by Prawat and Jarvis (1980) reported a lack of support for the hypothesis that teachers' perceptions of students are sex-biased. A closer inspection shows the interpretation of multiple regression analysis is inaccurate. More satisfactory interpretations are considered. (Author/PN)

The Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ), a multidimensional instrument designed to measure seven facets of self-concept hypothesized in Shavelson's hierarchical model was administered to fifth- and sixth-grade students. Teachers also evaluated each student's self-concept along the same dimensions. There was substantial student-teacher agreement…

Concludes that the affective goals subscribed to by many alternative high schools do have positive effects on some of the attitudes toward school, self, and others held by students, but that there is no relationship between measured attitudes and reading improvement. (FL)

Recommends the use of the Group Reading Inventory (GRI), an informal survey instrument, to identify general reading abilities of individuals in correctional facilities. Discusses why the GRI is appropriate for use, guidelines for constructing a GRI, and procedures for administering, scoring, and interpreting the instrument. (NRJ)

Assessed the degree that home educational environment predicts reading achievement and student self-esteem in a study of 253 educationally disadvantaged urban elementary school students and their parents. Results showed home environment was a significant predictor of relative and standardized achievement as well as nonacademic self-esteem. (JAC)

The predictive validity of reading attitude, field independence, locus of control, and demographic variables for reading and mathematics achievement was investigated. Expressed Reading Difficulty, field independence, and locus of control all contributed substantially to the regression equation. (Author/CM)

The research literature on assisted reading is reviewed to determine whether this approach should be recommended to remedial reading and classroom teachers. To date, research has been inconclusive as to when, how, or why any of the forms of assisted reading can be used effectively. (SEW)

Starting on the cover, this article describes programs developed by Julian Stanley's Study for Mathematically Precocious Youth (SMPY) at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) for the early identification and accelerated training of mathematically and verbally gifted students. Also discussed are SMPY spinoff programs and the shortage of math and…

To determine how television viewing affected the quality of recreational reading, logs were completed on the amount of time fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students spent on reading and on watching television. Results indicated that students who watched a lot of television and who did little reading tended to choose books of lower quality.…

Offers selected ERIC references on the application of Piagetian theory and the use of Piagetian tasks in beginning reading/language arts instruction. (RL)

Describes a conceptual framework for cost-effectiveness analysis that attempts to determine the relative impact of the different input variables on the output measures. Applies the model to a school district. (Author/JM)

Learning disabled and slowly developing readers were assigned to reading instruction programs on context cue use differing only in extent of pupil control over determination of errors. Results indicated no main effect for experimental condition. Interaction was found, however, between pretreatment locus of attribution and experimental condition.…

Reports on a longitudinal study of Finnish student development in literacy skills, especially reading skills. Notes that children from the rural northern areas gained most in test-intelligence and literacy skills, catching up with their coevals from the southern and urban areas. (RL)