The high school dropout problem in 1979 and the reasons students leave school were examined. Results indicated that women were more likely to leave because of pregnancy or marriage and men because of work. Family background strongly influenced dropout behavior and accounted for almost all racial differences in dropout rates. (Author/LC)

The Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ), a multidimensional instrument designed to measure seven facets of self-concept hypothesized in Shavelson's hierarchical model was administered to fifth- and sixth-grade students. Teachers also evaluated each student's self-concept along the same dimensions. There was substantial student-teacher agreement…

The central finding emerging from this literature review is that rewards can have either undermining or enhancing effects depending on the circumstances. It emerges that the recipient's perception of the functions of the dispensed reward is critically important. (Author/PN)

An explicit strategy method developed from a composite of basal arithmetic texts was used for mathematics problem-solving instruction for a group of fourth graders. Posttest results were positive. Implications for teaching mathematics problem solving to low performing students are discussed. (Author/DF)

Thirty-nine special educators, each having three to four pupils in the study, were assigned randomly to a repeated curriculum-based measurement/evaluation treatment or a conventional special education evaluation treatment. Experimental teachers effected greater student achievement. (Author/BW)

Achievement and attitudinal effects of three mathematics instruction methods directed in varying degrees toward accommodating diversity in student performance levels were compared in two randomized field experiments with third- through sixth-grade classes. Treatments included Team Assisted Individualization, Ability Group Active Teaching, the…

The purpose of this paper is to describe the rise in nontraditional enrollments, define the nontraditional undergraduate student, and develop a conceptual model of the attrition process for these students. Nontraditional students are more affected by the external environment than by the social integration variables affecting traditional student…

A meta-analysis examines studies concerned with the effects of vocabulary instruction on the learning of word meanings and on comprehension. It is concluded that vocabulary instruction has a significant effect on the comprehension of passages containing taught words, but significant effects are not found with all teaching methods. (Author/LMO)

This study investigated whether instruction aimed to heighten awareness of narrative structure would enhance fifth-grade children's use of story elements during comprehension and composition. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

This investigation examines empirical support for the internal/external frame of reference model that describes the relation between Verbal and Math self-concepts, and between these academic self-concepts and verbal and math achievement. (Author/LMO)

Hypotheses regarding the social contexts of reading activities were tested in two studies. Significant three-way interactions were found between (1) education, setting, and the contents (subject matters) of reading; and (2) occupation, setting, and reading contents. Because social contexts influence reading practices they should be considered in…

Examines the issues involved in trying to understand and solve the problem of high school dropouts. Issues are grouped into four categories that cover the incidence, causes, consequences, and solutions to the dropout problem. Current research and areas of future research are considered. (RB)

Study examines the long-term impact of retention/promotion decisions on the academic achievement of primary grade students. Comparisons of same-grade level performance showed that some retainees experience substantial benefits from retention, though those benefits are delayed one year. (RB)

A study involving 477 female and 501 male fifth through eighth graders was conducted to investigate the differences in spatial visualization abilities and effects of instruction on spatial visualization skills of students by grade and sex. Instruction in visualization proved effective across grade and sex; retention of effects persisted after one…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the DISTAR Reading I Program was more effective than a basal reading program in increasing school-based language ability for 80 first-grade Black students. (Author/IAH)