Reports on the evaluation of two programs which followed the master teacher training model espoused by the National Science Foundation, but used different types of master teachers and activities. Different results were produced from the two evaluation methods; using both methods provided a clearer view of the strengths and weaknesses of the…

Reports on a study designed to identify the hierarchical relationships among Piagetian cognitive modes and integrated science process skills for different Piagetian cognitive reasoning levels, and to determine whether positive vertical transfers could be validated. (TW)

Reports on a study which investigated the effect of instructional objectives on seventh grade students' attitudes toward science. Results indicated that students in the integrated science program had better attitudes than those receiving traditional instruction. (TW)

Reports on an analysis of secondary school physics teaching with respect to three aspects of curriculum. Indicates that limited but significant relationships exist among intentions, translations, and achievement in the teaching of physics in Canadian secondary schools. (TW)

Examines successful/unsuccessful distinctions between novices and experts in problem solving in terms of genetic knowledge, use of production rules, strategy selection, use of critical cues, use of logic, understanding of probability, and the thinking process itself. Suggests five implications for genetics instruction and provides three problems…

Presents findings from a systematic analysis of elementary-school science textbooks in terms of content domain, method of information presentation, types of questions, and considerateness. Found substantial differences between programs and suggests five further research questions. (YP)

Identifies communicators whom eighth-grade girls perceive as credible regarding reasons for taking elective physical science courses in high school. Finds that father, woman science teacher, mother, and boy high school student are ranked highly. Attributes associated with the communicators were classified as prestige, trustworthiness, similarity,…

Identifies the determinants of female junior high school students' intentions to enroll in elective physical science courses in high school using the theory of the Reasoned Action model. Finds that the intentions were a function of both attitude toward performing the behavior and subjective norms. (Author/YP)

Reports the history, instruction, teacher training, and evaluation of a computer-programing course in China. Suggests some questions and problems relating to the course. (YP)

Investigates the extent to which thinking skills and mathematical competency would predict the course performance of freshman and sophomore science majors enrolled in physics courses. Finds that algebra ability and critical thinking skills were the best predictors. (Author/YP)

Examined is how research informs and influences the practice of science education. Discussed are past focuses on treatments, present focuses on students' ideas, and developing styles of research. (YP)

Compares experts', advanced students', and novice students' use of genetics knowledge to generate and test hypotheses while solving genetic pedigree problems. Reports that experts identified more critical cues, tested more hypotheses, were more rigorous in the falsification of alternative hypotheses, and were more flexible to their solving…

Examined the extent to which students' alternative conceptions changed as a function of age. Reports that many alternative views remain intact throughout the school years. Provides several suggestions for teaching and research within the context of a neoconstructivist view of learning. (Author/YP)

Compares the professional need of science teachers across subject areas and countries by using the Science Teacher Inventory of Need. Reports the results and compares them with United States' research data. (YP)

Examines the influence of both locus of control and three instructional strategies to foster an understanding of the nature of science. Reports that the nature of science was most predictable for a separate process/content/teaching methods and logical thinking ability was the best predictor of the nature of science. (Author/YP)