The studies in this special section of the "Journal of Educational Psychology" present a variety of social-psychological interventions across large numbers of classrooms and populations. They show notable benefits for many students at risk for low performance. This is the glass half-full interpretation, and we consider the strengths of…

The results of Seaver's (1973) quasi-experimental study of the effects of teacher expectancies on student achievement based on older sibling performance are reinterpreted as a regression artifact. That this rival explanation has not been recognized in the literature is probably due to the effects of researcher expectancies. (Author/BS)

Weiner's allegations of errors in testing his theory (presumed detrimental effects of investigating a restricted range of variables, use of expectancy changes as a mediating variable, and presumed inappropriateness of classroom performance as a dependent variable) are evaluated. Disconfirmation of Weiner's predictions occurs irrespective of…

A temporal theory of motivation is proposed in which causes, causal dimensions, psychological consequences (expectancy and affect), and behavioral outcomes play a role in the dynamics of action. The discussion of methodological errors in attribution research that follows examines shortcomings at each of these conceptual stages in the motivational…

Trotman (EJ 168 902) indicated that Black and White families of similar socioeconomic status differ widely in intellectual home environment, and suggested the nonutility of socioeconomic status as a control in racial comparisons of IQ. The validity of Trotman's conclusions is questioned, both for methodology and results. (Author/BH)

The evidence for possible negative effects of first-name characteristics on personal functioning is equivocal. Two studies were conducted that avoided previous methodological problems of measurement, sampling, and statistical control. Results indicated that children's social competence and school achievement were unrelated to the frequency or…

The authors contend failure to confirm Weiner's theory is a result of shortcomings inherent in his model. They argue that cognitive theory has been properly represented and tested, and that the study of achievement behavior is enhanced by the addition of motivational, noncognitive assumptions to their theories. (Author/DWH)

Using observational data on classroom teachers, statistical procedures are presented for studying two questions on the stability of teacher behavior over time: (1) Is the individual teacher's behavior consistent? and (2) Are individual differences among teachers consistent? Approaches and methods of previous temporal stability studies are…

This study demonstrated an aptitude-strategy interaction in linear syllogistic reasoning; specifically, that the efficiency of each of four alternative strategies for solving linear syllogisms would depend on subjects' verbal and spatial abilities. The four strategies, as well as research methods in aptitude-treatment interaction, are discussed.…

Quantitative research on feedback that college teachers receive from student ratings is methodologically critiqued. The critique is based on a recently completed review and statistical study of 28 related studies by R. L'Hommedieu, R. J. Menges, and K. T. Brinko. Feedback effects may be stronger than research indicates. (SLD)