Two studies investigated the placement of interesting details in a text by asking 276 undergraduate students what they could recall after reading a text about a physicist and his scientific work. Placement of detail did not affect recall, but overall interestingness of the text did affect recall. (SLD)

The effect of equations in scientific proofs on readers' comprehension was studied. Forty college undergraduates solved unfamiliar physics problems with or without a traditional series of related equations. Verbal proofs produced better responses than did equation-based proofs. Equations in proofs cause readers to shift attention away from…

Effects of a measurement and planning system on the cognitive development, promotion, and referral to special education of 838 public school kindergartners were studied. The 428-member experimental group, whose 29 teachers implemented the system, had higher posttest scores in reading, mathematics, and science than did the 410-member control group.…

Challenges the use of ethnicity as a predictor of school-level achievement because of its lack of manipulability, lack of intrinsic association with home processes, and inability to advance the understanding of models of school-level achievement. The use of socioeconomic status as a more robust predictor of school-level achievement is recommended.…

Describes a study which explored the effects of a program to help low-achieving fourth and fifth grade students increase their mathematics achievement. Students and teachers organized into a community of learners; the curriculum, organized around units of study with major concepts, skills, and operations, was effective for all achievers. (SM)

Describes a study that compared academic achievement indices of summer birth date seventh-ninth graders (n=45) who entered kindergarten at age five with indices of similar summer birth date children who entered at age six (n=45). All statistically significant differences favored older males and females, especially in reading for older males. (SM)

Reviews the use and interpretation of canonical correlation analysis in 1978-89 "Journal of Educational Research" articles. Wide variation in the use of terminology was found across 10 articles reporting 11 studies. Because supplementary analyses are now available, researchers are encouraged to use the model more fully when interpreting results.…

A study compared the influence of four missing data techniques on three published analyses of the High School and Beyond data (reexamining public- versus private-school achievement). Results indicated that use of data-replacement techniques affected the conclusions of the three studies examined. A small positive effect favoring private schooling…

Study surveyed North Carolina school superintendents (n=140) and high school seniors (n=300) on the extent of teacher-student sexual harassment. Data revealed discrepancies between the number of teachers disciplined for student sexual harassment and the number of students claiming harassment. Presents a structure for establishing guidelines to…

A study explored the impact of a regular, sustained self-selected reading program on four reading skills measured by a criterion-referenced reading skill test. Fourth graders received reading only, reading/skill instruction, or skill instruction only. Results indicated significant pre- to posttest growth for all groups for all the reading…

A study assessed the effectiveness of a computer software program in teaching a list of unfamiliar words to eleventh graders, by comparing the program's instructional approach, which incorporates definitional and contextual word knowledge, with approaches that use definitional or contextual information only. A modified mixed approach proved most…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of contextual organizers for subjects (n=276) of three cognitive styles (field dependent, field independent, and field intermediate) during computer-assisted instruction. Findings were advance organizers were more effective for field-dependent subjects; postorgainzers were more effective for field-intermediate…

The effects of home environment on achievement in and attitudes toward computer literacy was studied via administration of a 37-item computer-literacy questionnaire to 193 public school students in grades 5 through 10. Home environment was a better predictor of attitudes toward computer learning than it was for student achievement. (SLD)

A systematic communication skills workshop for teachers was investigated for its effectiveness in enhancing both teacher attitudes toward children and selected teacher behaviors associated with effective teaching. The training model was found to improve teacher attitudes and skills for 378 elementary school and secondary school teachers in South…

The opinions of 191 faculty members and program directors concerning specialized programs and their accreditation in small liberal arts colleges were obtained via administration of a 20-item Likert-type mail survey and site visits to 8 liberal arts colleges. Most respondents approved of current accreditation processes. (SLD)