Investigates citizenship education in five different countries over ten years: (1) Denmark; (2) Germany; (3) the United States; (4) the Netherlands; and (5) England. Focuses on adolescents, ages 14 to 19, within secondary schools using questionnaires and interviews with students and teachers. (CMK)

Reports the findings from Phase 1 of the Civic Education Study conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Explains that the study examined civic education in more than 30 countries worldwide. Focuses on civic education in the United States comparing the findings to those in other countries. (CMK)

Advocates utilizing an issues-centered approach to teaching controversial political issues in social studies classrooms. Recommends augmenting this approach with the development of a democratic classroom where student views are encouraged and considered. Identifies useful techniques for this approach, including debates, simulations, discussions,…

The author offers concrete suggestions for implementing change in women's education programs through identifying stages in the adoptive processes, involving others, selecting techniques, and developing a plan. (Author/JR)

A human rights thread is an essential part of the social studies curriculum for (1) developing citizens with a global perspective; (2) fostering social studies goals in the areas of knowledge, abilities, valuing, and social participation; and (3) contributing to the development of democratic attitudes. (RM)

In 1976 Richard Gross surveyed state social studies specialists and local supervisors to determine the status of the social studies. To determine whether the generalizations from his study are still applicable today, a questionnaire was sent to Council of State Social Studies Specialists. Results of the two studies are compared. (RM)

Citizenship education must be redefined to mean preparation for global, as well as for national and local, citizenship and to mean practice in examining complex issues. Social studies programs must be redesigned to meet the challenges of the "New Age," e.g., technological advancement, and to implement this broader definition. (RM)

Reviews 20 years of research on gender issues and political attitudes during the high school years. Current research reveals no gender difference in levels of student political interest, efficacy, confidence, or trust. Interviews, however, suggests that females are more likely to express views on public policy. (MJP)

Discusses a study which determined empirically that potential users of new social studies materials do not perceive the attributes of the materials as has been assumed in the innovation adoption literature. Willingness to adopt new materials seems to be based upon observable benefits, degree of difficulty, investment requirements, and familiarity.…

Sex role research shows that (1) some achievement differences are related to students' sex role perceptions and teacher expectations, (2) effects on students of textbook bias against females have not been clearly demonstrated, and (3) instruction designed to reduce sex role stereotyping has had mixed results. (Author/AV)

A content analysis of 22 secondary economics textbooks revealed the textbooks to be less sex-biased than the books examined in earlier studies. However, women are still underrepresented in most of the textbooks, and little attention is given to economic realities which women face. (Author/RM)

Secondary students who regularly discussed controversial issues using a value analysis approach showed gains on the measures of political confidence, political interest, and social integration, but not on political trust. The value analysis discussions did not affect students' reading comprehension. (Author/RM)

Administered questionnaires to 1,459 secondary social studies students in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands to examine age, gender, and country differences in adolescents' perceptions of classroom climate. Studied relationships between political attitudes and perceived classroom climate and between the use of…