A technique of multidimensional scaling was applied to student perceptions of similarities in difficulty of twenty mechanics concepts presented in random pairwise combinations. Two distinct dimensions, one relating to motion and the other to the vector nature of some of the concepts, appeared in three separate groups, when either four or five…

Students who viewed demonstrations or manipulated apparatus understood the relational concepts (of the form a/b = a'/b') of speed, force, and work better than a control group, but did not differ significantly from each other. (AL)

Examples of scoring protocols, reliability data, and the relationship between components of a laboratory examination are reported. Differences between BSCS and non-BSCS biology students are examined. (AL)

Describes an empirical method of developing learning hierarchies by comparing success on each tested behavior with all other behaviors. Advantages, compared with validation of a particular logical hierarchy, are illustrated by application of density principles to prediction of flotation. (AL)

After being trained in writing acceptable laboratory reports for 10 weeks during which all reports produced were graded, ninth grade students in an elective science course were as likely to complete all future reports when they were aware that only a random quarter of the reports would be graded as when all reports continued to be assessed. (AL)

Community college students achieved higher scores on biology knowledge tests than did university students, but were equivalent on tests of biological comprehension, application and analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Students attending universities had higher mean critical thinking scores than those at community colleges. (AL)

Reports the characteristics and describes the development of a test of science processes (observing, comparing, classifying, quantifying, measuring, experimenting, inferring, and predicting) designed for junior high school students. Examples of items are included. (AL)

Describes the techniques used to develop tests for administration to groups of students who cannot read and write. Photographic transparencies coordinated with audio-tape are used. Tabulates reliability and other data for tests designed for the Science-A Process Approach program. (AL)

Describes production of attitude scale assessing beliefs about science and about teaching techniques suitable for elementary school science. Provides data on attitude changes during a one-semester methods course. Copy of scale appended. (AL)

There were no significant differences between groups of teachers receiving three different styles of supervision during teaching practicum with respect to the influence of the cooperating teacher upon the attitudes of the preservice teachers toward science teaching. There was no systematic trend toward or away from the teacher in any group. The…

Elementary school teachers exposed to a workshop preparing them to use Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) increased the number of higher level (analysis) questions asked in the classroom, although no specific instruction in questioning techniques was given. The older teachers tended to ask lower level (recall) questions. (AL)