Reports a classification of expository teaching styles of biology, chemistry and integrated science teachers in Nigeria. No evidence was found of pupil-pupil interaction in any of the lessons observed. Compares results with other studies from Britain, Canada, and Indonesia and indicates significant differences. (CW)

Compared performance in A-level science examinations of students who took an integrated science course (SCISP) with students who studied the separate subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology to 0-level standard. Results show no significant differences between the performance of the two groups. (JN)

Surveyed 170 English schools (for 13- to 16-year-olds) to determine the extent to which industrially relevent materials were adopted in science classes and attitudes of science teachers toward these materials in science syllabi. Indicates that although teachers believe the industrial materials should be emphasized, traditional science courses…

Eleven-year-old secondary school students (N=2065) were given a variety of attitude and achievement tests. Although both boys and girls had positive attitudes toward science, boys preferred studying physical science while girls preferred studying biology. Implications of these and other findings are discussed. (Author/JN)

Investigated the claims made by science teachers as to how they write and use worksheets, validating these claims against an analysis of worksheets collected from these teachers. Some weakness of readability theory in terms of validity and reliability when applied to these materials are discussed. (JN)

Investigated the effect on student performance of changes in question structure and sequence on a GCE 0-level multiple-choice chemistry test. One finding noted is that there was virtually no change in test reliability on reducing the number of options (from five to per test item). (JN)

This investigation showed no sex difference between boys and girls with regard to practical work at the end of their first year of secondary school and no difference between schools and groupings (all boys, all girls, mixed schools with mixed science classes, and mixed schools with single sex science classes). (JN)

An open-ended questionnaire was given to 369 students to determine factors which influenced their decision to take 0-level or Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) technology. Indicates that parents and career interests influenced those taking the courses while lack of knowledge about course content influenced those not taking the courses. (JN)

Examined job specifications found in advertisements in "The Times Educational Supplement." Results indicate that in a large number of cases information supplied was inadequate. In addition, many advertisements did not indicate the academic specialty required (biology, chemistry, physics) of potential candidates. (JN)

Determined whether secondary science teachers (55 males and 25 females) displayed sex bias in their subjective evaluations of students' written work. Preliminary results revealed that both male and female teachers tended to differentiate between the work of boys and girls in similar ways. (JN)

Results from three cognitive tests revealed few sex differences among 11-year-old students (N=2065). Neither question style (multiple-choice or structured) nor content (masculine or feminine) has any great effect on sex differences in performance. However, boys performed markedly better than girls on tests of spatial ability and mechanical…

Investigated effectiveness of teaching one element of a science syllabus using drama in place of conventional practical work. No statistically significant differences were detected in factual recall, but significantly more "meaningful" learning appeared to have taken place when drama was used. Psychological and educational implications…

Examined students' conceptions of the words "force" and "energy" using the interview-about-instances approach. Implications for science instruction and instructional strategies are discussed based on findings that many students have views of these concepts that are different from accepted scientific views. (JN)

Investigated male/female sixth-formers studying physical and biological science A-level courses, examining cognitive style, convergent/divergent thinking, career plans, and other characteristics. Differences between biology/physics students tend to be of the same kind as those between scientists as a whole compared to nonscientists. (JN)

Investigated concept development related to particulate theory of matter in 130 children (ages 8-12) in two contrasting Warwickshire middle schools. Results are set against background policies/practices in science teaching as revealed by responses from teacher questionnaires (N=60) and analysis of several science curricula. (JN)