A study of the motivational needs of secondary family and consumer sciences education students (n=1,030) determined that most were motivated by the need for achievement more than the need for affiliation and power. Students who were members of Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America had a higher need for affiliation and power. (Contains…

The Pluralism and Diversity Attitude Assessment was used to assess business and marketing teachers' attitudes toward issues related to multicultural education (315 of 1,400 responded). Although they had positive attitudes about the issues, they were resistant toward implementation of cultural pluralism and diversity. (Contains 21 references.) (JOW)

A study examined 104 graduates of a manufacturing-focused school-to-career (STC) program and a comparison group (n=104) to detect similarities and differences in their post-high school lives. STC students are more likely to work in and have career goals related to their STC sponsor and have higher postsecondary enrollment rates. (Contains 30…

Characteristics of students in 15 Pennsylvania community colleges (n=704) and 16 two-year proprietary colleges (n=317) were compared. In both groups, technical students were overwhelmingly white; the community colleges' population was 69.5% male, 30.5% female; in proprietary schools, 43.2% male, 56.8% female. Females had higher grade point…

The field-dependent cognitive styles of 44 professionals in customer service occupations provided a benchmark to interpret data for 239 secondary marketing education students. Results suggest that males have greater access to analytic traits such as restructuring skill, problem-solving interest, and skill with abstractions. (Contains 38…

An instrument to assess student perceptions of their vocational-technical educational experiences (n=211) was developed and tested. Results show that scores aligned well and almost exclusively on the dimensions for which they were developed. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/JOW)

Scores on an adaptive competency profile for 30 Licensed Practical Nurse graduate candidates and 41 second-level Associate Degree in Nursing candidates indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Results suggest that a variety of educational backgrounds foster development of nursing competence. (Contains 23…

Oklahoma administrators and counselors were interviewed concerning their perceptions about placement and facilitation of students with special needs in school-to-work programs. Accommodations were often offered through educational enhancement centers in vocational schools. No specific vocational-technical programs were geared to special needs…

Responses from 79 of 258 secondary career and technical education teachers compared 26 who left the teaching profession with those who remained in terms of their teaching commitment level and first-year teaching experience. Job-related stress and negative first-year experiences were the reasons most often given for leaving the teaching profession.…

A study of entry-phase agriculture teachers (n=90, one-third female) identified personal, professional, and situational characteristics that would explain how long they expected to remain in teaching. Gender and agricultural work experience were significant predictors. (Contains 28 references.) (SK)

Results of the Canfield Learning Styles Inventory, completed by 212 secondary business students, showed that most preferred direct experience--hands-on learning. Least preferred was reading, including textbook assignments. Nearly half (98) clustered around applied and independent learning preferences. (SK)

Career and technical educators (n=827) completed measures of empowerment in terms of decision making, professional growth, status, self-efficacy, autonomy, and impact. Decision making rated lowest. Significant differences appeared according to teaching area (agriculture, business, family/consumer, industrial, marketing) and educational level…

Comparison of 24 community college engineering graduates who participated in cooperative education and 13 nonco-op graduates found no significant employment differences in terms of organizational socialization, relevance of job-to-career plans, access to resources, or participation in decision making. Findings may be specific to this community…

Students in a computer technology course completed either a paper-and-pencil test (n=40) or an online test in a proctored computer lab (n=43). Test scores were equivalent, but the online group, particularly freshmen, completed the test in less time. Online testing time did not correlate with test score. (Contains 30 references.) (SK)

Follow-up of associate degree auto technology graduates who participated in cooperative apprenticeship (n=39) or traditional campus-based programs (n=34) indicated that co-op participants had higher rates of relevant employment, higher income, more career advancement, and greater satisfaction with their preparation. Age, prior experience/training,…