Investigated gender patterns with respect to entry rate, project topic, and project type in a state-level science competition. Reports that for the past 20 years the participation rate has been greater for girls than for boys. Boys are more likely than girls to prepare physical, earth, math/computer, and experimental research-based projects. (45…

Reports on a case study that examines the beginnings of gender differentiation during a naturally occurring academic activity designed to support and guide young children's interest in doing science. Contains 25 references. (DDR)

Reports that teachers exhibit a stable degree of persistence in utilizing selected elementary and secondary NSF science curricula in the western United States. Differences between teachers trained in the NSF curricula and a control sample indicate that elementary workshop participants tended to utilize NSF-sponsored curricula longer than did…

Summarizes results of the meta-analysis of 105 research studies dealing with effects of new science curricula on student performance. Twenty-seven different new science curricula involving one or more measures of student performance were included in the analysis. Positive performance patterns were found in all new curricula examined. (JN)

Argues that naturalistic research is appropriate for studying science education. Stages of naturalistic research are explained and illustrated with material from NSF-sponsored Case Studies in Science Education. Problems in traditional research methods are presented as justification for inductive models or models based on multiple methods,…

Consolidates information on selected matters reported in two or more separate meta-analyses reported in this issue (SE 533 494-500). Also examines the relationship between results of these meta-analyses and other work of this nature reported in other sources. Indicates high degree of consistency among results of these various meta-analyses.…