Describes a sampling demonstration, using random numbers generated on a microcomputer, that helps to make the central limit theorem concrete and understandable. (Author/JDH)

Describes procedures for preparing incoming graduate students in statistics. Procedures include providing advanced notice of the statistics requirements, evaluation of students' preparation upon arrival and offering remediation. Results show these steps were effective in reducing the first-year dropout rate and increasing the quality of graduate…

Salient features of an ideal system of instruction are discussed. There have been recent attempts to write formulas for instruction and to individualize teaching in ways suggested by the science of behavior. DNA technologies may some day enable us to trace correlates of intelligence. We could then design individual educational strategies. (RM)

Low-level content and cheating are two problems that are serious threats to the personalized system of instruction (PSI). The use of behavioral objectives can reduce book-boundness and consequently raise the level of course content. To prevent cheating in PSI courses, rigorous checks on proctor grading must be built into courses. (RM)

A previous study ranked 867 private undergraduate institutions by the number of students at each school who subsequently received doctorates between 1920 and 1980. The study reported here analyzed the top ranking 101 institutions in psychology to determine what proportion of psychology majors at each school subsequently received doctoral degrees.…

The author indexes of 24 introductory college-level psychology textbooks were surveyed to determine the authorities cited most frequently. The five names cited most often in descending order were Freud, Piaget, Skinner, Bandura, and Erikson. Significant changes from earlier citations studies are discussed. (Author)

Of the 797 psychology baccalaureates who were asked if they would major in psychology again if they had it to do all over, 70 percent said that they would. Study results are discussed in terms of how academic advising of psychology majors can be improved. (RM)

A total of 178 psychology baccalaureates were surveyed to determine how satisfied they were with their jobs. Forty-one percent of the graduates did not participate in the study. Results showed that general job satisfaction was associated with business contact and general cultural jobs and not with organizational and technical jobs. (RM)

The rapid generation of information today constitutes an imperative for change in the way undergraduate psychology courses are taught. Psychology instructors must carefully select material for their courses, structure courses to maximize student performance, emphasize information retrieval skills, and contribute to the development of general…

A college-level, interdisciplinary psychology and composition course that emphasized understanding the human condition is described. Principles of behavior introduced in the psychology class were portrayed in action through the literature read and discussed in the English class. Students wrote their English compositions on issues raised and…

The amount and kind of information included in the notes taken by undergraduate psychology students were found to be related to test performance. Most students included in their notes less than 25 percent of the propositions judged worthy of inclusion and only 50 percent of the targeted main ideas. (Author/RM)

A course for teaching an advanced undergraduate course on the psychology of adult development and aging is described and evaluated. Course goals, content, and format are discussed. Students generally viewed the course favorably. (RM)

Introductory psychology students discuss the definition of aggression and related issues of causation and control. Students are exposed to the many issues involved in defining aggression and develop an understanding of the complexity of such a construct and, thus, the reasons why there is much disagreement about its meaning. (Author/RM)

The purpose of this class exercise is to increase undergraduate psychology students' awareness of common persuasion techniques used in advertising, including the appeal to or creation of needs, social and prestige suggestion, and the use of emotionally loaded words and images. Television commercials and magazine advertisements are used as…

Two procedures--a consensual procedure and an independent procedure--for measuring personality, and a demonstration designed to help students understand which is more accurate and why, are described. Independent ratings are found to be more valid than group consensus. (RM)