This study investigated the generality of the negative suggestion effect in objective tests. College students read text passages and took objective tests. Later, they rated statements' validity, including statements from the initial test. Students were more likely to consider objectively false statements true if they had appeared on the earlier…

Seventy-six empirical investigations relating to a particular academic domain and involving connected discourse presented in writing or on a computer were reviewed. From the analysis, six premises were proposed as guides for further research and practice in the area of subject-matter knowledge and interest in text processing. (SLD)

Studies of long-term retention of what is taught in the classroom (62 articles) were reviewed. It is concluded that students retain much of what they are taught, that retention decreases over time, and that increasing original learning affects retention. Effects of instructional strategy and ability are discussed. (SLD)

This review examines recent developments in research on social-cognitive theories of motivation during adolescence and the ways in which such research can be applied to the reform of middle grade schools. Results suggest that effective reform must consider the multiple contexts in which students interact. (SLD)

This literature review discusses the epistemology of geography and the rationale for including it in the curriculum. It then reviews research about geography learning and teaching. Efforts to reform the geography curriculum require understanding the core epistemological themes and concepts of geography. (SLD)

Examined the effects of cooperative-mastery learning (CML) on student's questioning behavior, creativity, and achievement. Comparisons of controls and students trained to generate questions under CML, mastery learning, and cooperative learning (CL) indicated that CML and ML students scored higher on measures of higher order questioning skills and…

Meta-analysis was used to integrate findings from studies that examined the effectiveness of role playing and antiracist teaching to reduce students' racial prejudice. Analysis of data from 26 studies indicated that role playing and antiracist teaching significantly reduced racial prejudice and were similarly effective. (SM)

Examined the effectiveness of experienced-based versus other experiential learning. First graders participated in experience-dictation, experience-debriefing, or debriefing-only groups. Pre- and posttesting probed students' understanding of 10 basic economic concepts and use of cost-benefit analysis in decision making. Findings supported the…

This study examined influences on writing development among low-income, African-American elementary students. Questionnaires, test scores, and written answers from a longitudinal study provided study data. On all questionnaires, what consistently correlated with writing ability were effort, attitude, teacher and student expectations, maturity,…

This study investigated teachers' sense of efficacy and bias in decisions to refer students to special education. Teachers read a case study (under different conditions with varying student socioeconomic status and etiology of learning program) then judged student placement. Teachers' decisions were biased by variables unrelated to the student's…

The article assesses the report of the Sandia National Laboratory's contentions about decline in Scholactic Aptitude Test Scores, National Assessment of Educational Progress achievement, and international assessments. The article suggests the report is generally right about steady trends but seriously flawed by several errors. (SM)

Experiment examined the contribution of phonemic processes to beginning word reading and spelling. Kindergartners received instruction in blending spoken phonemes into words, segmenting spoken words into phonemes, or blending and segmenting. Segmenting ability played a more critical role than blending in very early stages of reading and possibly…

Reports a study that tested the efficacy of the fluency development lesson (FDL) as a supplement to the regular reading curriculum among second graders. The 10- to 15-minute FDL, which was implemented daily for 6 months, resulted in fluency gains, and teacher response was positive. (SM)

Surveys examined junior high schoolers' psychosocial characteristics and self-reports of deviant behavior, investigating links between self-derogation in school and academic failure mediated by a disposition to deviate from conventional expectations. Academic failure was in part motivated behavior that was an adaptation to previous self-devaluing…

Secondary teachers and principals completed questionnaires examining four hypotheses on principals' organizational commitment. Teacher perceptions of principals' commitment positively related to school robustness, but principals' self-reports did not. Teachers were lower than principals in estimates of commitment and robustness. Teachers'…