Presents guidelines for developing close translations of tests into other languages, presenting an example that applies these guidelines to translation into Spanish of the Cognitive- Based Literacy Assessment-Revised (CBLA-R) for first and second graders. A case is made that translations which ignore the language systems and culture of limited…

Used data from the first followup of the National Education Longitudinal Study to examine predictors of school-based sports participation during 10th grade. Sports participation during adolescence related to gender, coming from a high socioeconomic status background, engaging in other outdoor activities, admiring an athlete, self-perception of…

Investigated the effects of problem-solving instruction on high school students' knowledge acquisition, retention, and structuring in contrast to expository instruction in social studies. Students in both groups completed knowledge acquisition instruments. Results indicated that knowledge structure measures did not differ significantly between the…

Investigated urban high school teachers' and students' perspectives on student engagement. Data from observations and interviews indicated that teachers focused on barriers they perceived restrained their ability to engage students. Students reported barriers but noted that their engagement levels were flexible and responsive to teachers' actions.…

Investigated the relationship between teacher-rated student engagement and academic outcomes for at-risk Latino American students (both foreign-born and U.S.-born). Data from teachers' ratings of students, student grade point averages (GPAs), and records of 248 7th-10th graders attending alternative schools indicated that engagement was a…

Investigated the undergraduate success of college graduates from three high school settings (home schools, private schools, and public schools) nationwide. Data included 40 indicators of college success reflecting five domains of learning outcome (achievement, leadership, professional aptitude, social behavior, and physical activity). Overall,…

Investigated the role of task factors in goal orientation by comparing motivational orientation scores obtained by college students on an ordinary class day to those obtained immediately prior to a test. Task-involvement scores were significantly lower under test conditions, but ego involvement was also found to significantly decrease at the time…

Examined the relationship between middle school students' exposure to a relaxation response curriculum and academic achievement over time. Teachers were trained to teach relaxation response exercises. Data on students' grade point average (GPA), work habits, cooperation, and attendance indicated that students exposed to more than two semesters of…

Compared the retention of academic skills of elementary students in traditional and alternative calendar schools over the summer months using curriculum-based measurement. Students completed mathematics, spelling, written expression, and reading probes in the spring and fall. Results indicated that retention of academic skills in the different…

Identified factors in student teaching placements that can indicate to university supervisors when they should move beyond standard operating procedures to help improve the changes of successful experiences for student teachers. Surveys of student teachers and supervisors indicated that only half of at-risk students were identified by supervisors,…

Investigated the impact of teachers' instructional strategies (direct or non-direct) and college students' conceptual levels (high or low) on students' achievement and motivation to learn. Students in the nondirect instruction group, regardless of conceptual level, were more motivated than students in the direct instruction group. Overall, high…

Examines the thinking and reasoning skills today's students need, reviewing promising approaches to understanding and improving these skills offered by cognitive psychologists and philosophers, evaluating the contributions of each approach, and suggesting how explanations offered by cognitive psychologists and criteria for evaluating students'…

Developed profiles of computer-using elementary and middle school mathematics teachers and had experts rank them as though the teachers were receiving a hypothetical award. Experts reported weights of the dimensions they used in making judgments. Actual award judgments were highly predictable from profile dimensions. What experts considered most…

Tested the benefits of matching high-anxiety German and American 8th graders with teacher-centered instruction and low-anxiety students with student-centered instruction. Data from student interviews and diaries indicated that anxiety alone was did not necessarily significantly deter achievement, and instructional patterns alone did not account…

Examined the evolution of a formal mentoring program, Mentor-Apprentice Collaboration, over 1 year, describing what the elementary-level beginning and mentor teachers learned from the experience. Participant interviews highlighted several productive mentoring strategies: sharing concerns and joys; building a sense of team; and establishing trust,…