The findings of a two-year study of the impact of an elite private college education on five mature returning students enrolled at Smith College (Massachusetts) are presented. Most participants evolved to define success in terms of capacity to render service rather than in terms of social mobility. (SLD)

The narratives of more than 300 qualitative researchers about problems and solutions attempted during research were collected and analyzed to develop three successive descriptive-interpretive frameworks for understanding researchers' lived experiences during the shift from single to multiple research paradigms. The need for more reflective…

The prevalence, conceptualization, and form of cooperative learning used by elementary school teachers are examined. Ninety-three percent of teachers (n=85) from six elementary schools in two districts indicated that they used cooperative learning. However, few were using recognized forms of this practice when criteria from the research literature…

Whether there is a gender-by-item interaction that makes easy mathematics test items easier for females than for males and difficult items harder for females than for males was tested in two studies, involving 10,321 eighth graders and 5332 ninth graders and results from nine mathematics tests. The hypothesis was generally supported, as discussed.…

Whether boys and girls shared equally in performing behaviors required in hands-on activities in the performance-based science classroom was studied over the school year with 165 students in grades five through eight. Being actively involved predicted students' year-end science attitudes, and boys tended to handle the resources more often. (SLD)

Data from the 1990 National Assessment of Educational Progress were used to study the number of Carnegie units earned by students in mathematics. Overall, gender and ethnic differences in total mathematics courses were small but ethnic differences relative to the type of course were large. Gender differences are discussed in light of college…

High school students gifted in spatial ability were selected from a large national sample and compared to those gifted in mathematical ability on multiple measures. The students gifted with spatial ability had interests less compatible with traditional coursework and lower levels of academic and occupational success. (SLD)

The cyclical nature of mathematics grades was studied for a cohort of elementary school students from a large metropolitan school district in Texas over six years (average cohort size of 8495). The study used an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. Results indicate that grades do exhibit a significant cyclical pattern. (SLD)

The effects of gender bias and number of errors as unintentional determinants of essay grades were studied with 22 undergraduate education majors grading four essays by sixth graders in stereotypically male or female handwriting. Essays believed to be written by boys were graded higher than those believed to be written by girls regardless of…

The practices of 191 regular-classroom teachers teaching language-minority children were studied. Findings suggest that teachers typically have not received formal training in second-language learning, that their resources are inadequate, and that they often engage in well-meaning practices that are detrimental to the development of…

The relationships between autonomy and a set of attitudinal, professional participation, and reasons-for-leaving-teaching variables were studied for 770 urban teachers in Florida. Results suggest that job satisfaction and a perceived lighter paperwork load are predictors of autonomy, as are insufficient rewards for outstanding performance and lack…

Two college teachers, one from social science education and one from English education, team-taught part of a teaching methods course involving 20 students in the preparation of interdisciplinary units. Observations and student journal entries show that a valuable teaching technique was developed. (SLD)

This article invokes a literal image of test givers as measurement devices and explores the psychometric properties of these test administrator instruments. Concurrent and content validation and test-retest and parallel-forms validity are explored. (SLD)

The purpose of this split-sample regression study was to determine whether quantitative and verbal scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test, undergraduate grade point averages, age, and gender differentially predicted performance for 198 MBA students. Findings suggest that commonly used predictor variables may predict achievement…

Addresses issues associated with the part of the work force in educational research employed by British universities, including implications of recommendations in the Dearing Report. Identifies problems in recruiting experienced and qualified staff at all levels, and encouraging potential staff to pursue careers in educational research. Proposes…