Examined young children's abilities to echo short pitch patterns in relation to maintenance of a tonal center in self-chosen and taught songs. Found a low positive correlation between ability to echo pitches or contours and maintenance of a tonal center in singing. Reported that children consistently used larger vocal ranges in echoing pitch…

Compares the effect of modeling on the development of musical preference by comparing subject race and sex with preferred performer race and sex. After viewing "We Are the World," subjects selected the solo part they preferred to perform. These were compared with their favorite performer. Subjects preferred same-race and same-sex models. (DB)

Analyzed the relative contributions of academic ability, music experience, and musical aptitude to predicting grades in college freshman music theory courses. Found that the best predictor of grades was the mathematics component of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Data analysis revealed five factors that accounted for 78.6 percent of the…

Discusses Thaddeus L. Bolton's 1895 doctoral dissertation, which may have been the first dissertation on a music-education related topic. Reports that Bolton's thesis, titled "Rhythm," and written at Clark University (Massachusetts) was an experimental study of 30 subjects and their reaction to sounds occurring at different speeds and intensities…

Examines teachers' beliefs about, and practices regarding, small-group teaching of mathematics. Reports that only 5 percent of the teachers used two or more groups in which students were encouraged to work cooperatively. Discusses variables related to deciding whether to group students for instruction. (Author/YP)

Integrates research on mathematics anxiety, regarding its nature, effects, and relief by using meta-analysis. Concludes that mathematics anxiety depresses performance and that mathematics and test anxieties both relate to general anxiety. Discusses the sex difference of the anxiety and its effects on achievement. (Author/YP)

Describes responses of fifth to eighth grade students to different types of test items requiring estimation. Reports that performance differed by item format, types of numbers and operations in the items, and grade level of students. (Author/YP)

Investigates patterns of sex differences for responses to problems across the countries involved in the Second International Mathematics Study. Reports no substantial gender effects on any of the content areas using the median polishing method. (YP)

Examines the oral language and related literacy performances of four four-year olds to determine the role and functions of oral language in prekindergarten classroom exchanges, writing episodes, and print-awareness tasks. Children who are adept in oral use of Halliday's seven functions have a developed sense of their culture's literacy and perform…

Thirty-two preschoolers were observed while they played with realistic play props and nonrealistic play materials in an effort to determine whether realism of play objects was related to overall symbolic object transformation. Boys of all ages and girls under age five demonstrated greater symbolic activity with realistic play props. (SH)

Examined the ability of 10 4-year olds to generate and identify themes by relating text to life experiences and identifying with the feelings of characters. The children could not generate theme statements after they heard the story, but could talk about thematic elements and identify an appropriate theme statement from choices offered. (SH)

Fourth and sixth graders were engaged in the process of textbook selection in an effort to increase the understanding of student experiences with materials that have a substantial influence on curriculum and instruction. Results indicate that children do not, as a group, share a comprehensive point of view about basal readers. (SH)

Examined written responses of 140 third and sixth graders to beginnings of stories whose characters held stereotypical or nonstereotypical occupational roles. Results suggest significant gender differences and gender stereotyping in children. More male characters than female characters were added to stories, and added male characters were often…

This study involved 103 kindergartners, 52 of whom received instruction on a picture-word processor system. Results indicate that students who received the picture-word processor instruction responded enthusiastically to the system and did significantly better in reading than those who received no instruction. (SH)

Summarizes six studies, including research on the connection between children's writing and meaning, symbolic play with realistic props, the preschooler's developing sense of theme, the process of engaging children in textbook selection, children's use of stereotyped writing, and effects of computerized picture-word processing on kindergartners'…