Maintains that teachers often ask groups of pupils to undertake computer tasks with the understanding that positive benefits will result within the social context of learning. Reports on a study of the impact of social skills training on two fifth-grade British classes. (CFR)

Contends that most of the research on gender issues in schools has focused on teacher behavior and the values transmitted through observed talk and behavior. Reports on a study of the views toward their elementary schooling by 53 secondary school students. (CFR)

This examination of the New American Schools Development Corporation initiative in Bensenville (Illinois) details the controversy over the reform effort and argues that factors such as school governance, local control, and school finance played major roles in determining program outcomes. The importance of political influences in reform efforts is…

Drawing on concepts from an institutional theory of organizations, this study describes policy, teacher union, and academic actors who shaped and promoted school-based management in the national arena, their interests, and the network that linked them. School-based management was at least partially the product of institutional environment. (SLD)

How changes in teacher pay can contribute to systemic educational reform and school restructuring is discussed, focusing on knowledge- and skill-based pay, job enlargement, and collective incentives. These alternatives have the potential to improve teacher motivation and support other reforms. (SLD)

A study of 79 high school students in 8 classes demonstrates that students consider a teacher more helpful than an artificially intelligent tutoring system but nevertheless prefer the tutor. Possible reasons for this paradox are discussed in the study, a reply, and a rejoinder discussing computer technology in the classroom. (SLD)

The structure of "teacher efficacy" was studied with a sample of 342 prospective and experienced teachers through an efficacy questionnaire. Factors correspond to an internal versus external distinction, similar to the locus-of-control measures of causal attribution. (SLD)

This study investigated the impact of organizational and personality factors on three factors of teacher burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Results with 3,044 elementary, intermediate, and secondary teachers demonstrate that teacher burnout is not a unidimensional construct. (SLD)

This study of the achievement perceptions of 663 Australian high school students argues for more than 1 type of gender stereotype, varying with frame of reference and the multidimensionality of self-concepts, rather than the simple presence of stereotypes in student attitudes. (SLD)

The relationship between planning and budgeting processes, and whether their integration can be related to institutional improvement were studied in a survey of 532 planning and business offices at 266 2-year colleges. The real benefits of linking planning and budgeting are outlined. (SLD)

A judgmental method for determining item bias was applied to test data from 2,000 Native American and 2,000 Anglo-American students for a statewide proficiency test. Results indicated some shortcomings of the judgmental method but supported the use of cross-validation in empirically identifying potential bias. (SLD)

Using an environmental approach, Israeli researchers compared an experimental high school that emphasized respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness to a conventional high school. Social climate surveys of students and teachers indicated experimental classes had more perceived teacher support and less competition. The environmental instrument…

This study assessed the use of oral recitation lessons (ORL) to develop second graders' oral reading fluency and the effects of fluency training on reading comprehension. ORL proved effective in developing oral reading fluency. Fluency and reading comprehension of ORL students was superior to that of students receiving traditional reading…

Dutch researchers investigated the effects of Obuchova's method of teaching measurement to kindergarten children with no knowledge of conservation or seriation. Results indicated training was highly effective. Skills were transferred to conservation tasks not taught in training. Transfer to concepts not included in training was also observed. (SM)

Primary teachers and intermediate grades students viewed videotapes of students displaying either Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or normal behavior, each labeled accordingly. Surveys indicated that the ADHD behavior, but not the label, had a significant negative impact on teachers' and peers' ratings. (SM)