This book compiles several essays about effective evaluation of teaching. Contents of this publication include: (1) Conducting Research on Student Evaluations of Teaching (William E. Addison and Jeffrey R. Stowell); (2) Choosing an Instrument for Student Evaluation of Instruction (Jared W. Keeley); (3) Formative Teaching Evaluations: Is Student…

Describes a Teaching of Psychology course required for University of Alabama psychology doctoral students. Reports that graduate students take full responsibility for teaching an introductory psychology section and participate in a weekly seminar on practical and theoretical issues. Suggests that both faculty and graduate students are satisfied…

Discusses whether change in favor of vocational preparation compromises liberal arts values and what effects such a change would have in undergraduate psychology programs. Proposes a new liberal skills model and curriculum changes emphasizing career advising, career-relevant coursework, curricula enrichment, and fieldwork. Urges that career…

While most college and university professors spend more time teaching than doing research, most graduate programs emphasize research rather than preparation for teaching. Describes a doctoral program in psychology that prepares students to be both researchers and teachers. (CFR)

Contends that, because of rising textbook costs and related factors, many college psychology teachers are interested in paperback textbooks. Reports on a review of 11 psychology textbooks. Includes 4 tables of comparison data and a list of the 11 texts used in the study. (CFR)

Urges the inclusion of comparative psychology in the undergraduate curriculum. Defines zoological or comparative psychology as a field that explores the behavior patterns and minds of many animal species and the genesis, control, and consequences of a range of behavioral patterns. Traces the history and development of the discipline. Discusses…

Presents results of a study comparing student class size preferences among first-year college students and upper-division students. Reports that first-year students prefer small classes and upper division students prefer large classes. Concludes that experience in larger classes results in a stronger preference toward the large classes. Urges…

Presents a study of students' preferences regarding teachers. Reports that students selected psychology courses taught by instructors possessing stereotypically male, female, or androgynous characteristics. Concludes that students preferred courses taught by those with "feminine" or androgynous characteristics over those possessing "masculine"…

Reports on a survey of 275 psychology departments on requirements for psychology majors, chairperson's opinions about psychology minors, and minor areas recommended for psychology majors. Finds strong support for minors in the psychology program to provide a more well-rounded education. (CFR)

Describes a multimethod assessment of psychology student outcomes at the University of Northern Colorado. Nineteen goals and objectives for psychology majors were identified. Describes changes in the psychology program prompted by the assessment results. (CFR)

Reports on a study that compared graduate student and faculty views of effective psychology courses. Finds that students placed greater emphasis on course components directly related to their class performance. Suggests strategies for addressing the different perspectives of students and faculty. (CFR)

Contends that providing continuing education for secondary school psychology teachers may be more important to the improvement of high school psychology than changes in teacher preparation and certification. Describes the efforts of one university department to work with secondary psychology teachers. (CFR)

Reports on a content analysis of 18 manuals designed for college-level teaching assistants. Finds that frequently included topics focused on intellectual and interpersonal tasks. Suggests that the study's results could serve as a model for teaching assistant materials. (CFR)

Discusses increased numbers of undergraduate psychology majors and strategies to reduce them. Proposes a prediction model based on the grade point average of graduating psychology students. Concludes that student performance in introductory psychology courses may provide one predictive measure of later achievement. (CFR)

Asserts that most efforts to maintain professional ethics in psychology have focused on research and clinical practice. Maintains that a need also exists for ethical codes in psychology instruction. Describes the development and implementation of a code of ethics for a college-level department of psychology. (CFR)