In an attempt to investigate and define the "clarity of presentation" complex of teacher behaviors and to relate them to a number of presage and context variables, four instruments consisting of selected low inference behaviors were administered to four groups of ninth-grade students for rating the behaviors of their most clear and least clear…

Social studies teachers, 12th grade students, and parents of students in junior and senior high school were surveyed about the social studies curriculum in Utah schools in 1975. The goal of the survey was to provide educators with information for planning and evaluation of current and future social studies programs. Questionnaires were…

A survey was conducted to determine if California public libraries and systems serving 150,000 or greater populations met certain audiovisual standards established by the American Library Association (ALA). Fourteen public libraries and 11 systems responded to questions covering the criteria. Half the public libraries and the majority of systems…

Suggests that secondary school students seem to have reasonably good procedural knowledge in areas of mathematics as rational numbers, probability, measurement, and data organization and interpretation. It appears, however, that students are lacking the conceptual knowledge enabling them to successfully do the assessment items on applications,…

Elaborates on the article "Synthesis of Research on the Effectiveness of Intellectual Skills Programs: Snake-Oil Remedies or Miracle Cures?" by Sternberg and Bhana. Encourages the development of a theory that could provide a guide to the infusion of thinking instruction into any area of inquiry. (IW)

STATGRAPHICS, a statistical package written for the IBM PC/XT/AT, is reviewed. In addition to superb graphics, STATGRAPHICS is unequalled in time series procedures, quality control, linear programming, and other mathematical procedures. The modules for regression analysis, categorical data analysis, and nonparametric analysis are good, but contain…

Data sets from Australia were analyzed using a causal model to determine the possible causes of sex differences in ASAT scores. Observed differences could be explained in terms of differences in students' English scores, the time the students spent studying mathematics, and their confidence in success. (Author/MLW)

Discusses methodology and results of a study conducted at the University of Massachusetts in which bored versus stressed subjects were provided opportunities to watch television. Results indicate bored subjects more frequently selected exciting rather than relaxing programs, while stressed subjects selected similar quantities of each program type.…

Path analysis was used to examine the process of persistence in higher education among a sample of low-income Black youth attending a variety of institutions. The model explores the role of college experiences--academic and social integration and academic achievement. (Author/MLW)

Analyzed 58 studies and concluded that much empirical evidence on knowledge gaps exists but not on gaps under the influence of media publicity. Found little research on associations between knowledge and education that involves media coverage of issues/news topics. Provides guidelines for future research. (PD)

This paper reports on the range of methods used by state education agencies (SEAs) to report special education information to the public and the challenges related to this reporting. The report is based on a September 2001 survey completed by state directors of special education from 34 states. First, the paper summarizes reporting requirements of…

This book is developed to enable students to think clearly and critically about the scientific process of research. The author emphasizes that the ability to think clearly about research methods, reason through complex problems, and evaluate published research are important in today's changing educational landscape. Students using this book will…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 places vast new information burdens on state and local governments and the nonprofit and private sectors. Three classes of problems confront program and information managers implementing welfare reform: developing information infrastructure, redesigning applications to…

This Digest discusses computer assisted advisory practices currently in use in community colleges, outlining the types of data collected and how they are used, including the use of tracking to plan interventions for at-risk students. Enhanced computer technology has improved the effectiveness of academic advising by enabling more thorough and…

This paper presents guidelines and tools for action research in the school library which will help the librarian justify expenditures and personnel and evaluate and plan services. It shows how statistics can be turned into meaningful knowledge about what is currently being done in the library, how well it is being done, whether it should be done,…