Undergraduate students enrolled in a Principles of Psychology II course were asked to rate selections from introductory psychology texts for reading ease. These student ratings were then compared with the ratings obtained using the Flesch readability formula. Student ratings did not agree very well with the Flesch scores. (RM)

Results of several studies indicated that positive student evaluations of psychology courses that used a personalized system of instruction (PSI) were not due to final grade effect. Students rated the PSI courses highly throughout the courses. (CS)

Student emotional state at the end of the semester is related to instructor ratings, students receiving higher grades rate the course and instructor more favorably, and items that were orthogonal in prior factor analysis are highly intercorrelated and change significantly in magnitude. (AM)

Examines student grade expectations throughout a semester in which students offered their expectations three times during the course: (1) within the first week; (2) midway through the semester; and (3) the week before the final examination. Finds that their expectations decreased stating that their cumulative grade point average was related to the…

Describes a class exercise where students in three different courses wrote ten responses to the question "Who am I?", in order to increase their understanding of social constructionism. Reveals that students accurately identified the gender of most respondents and saw this as a useful exercise to help them understand social constructionism. (CMK)

Describes the 12-week long collaborative learning project used in a persuasion and propaganda course. Explains that the students worked in groups on a persuasive campaign to change a target population. States that the student projects were persuasive. (CMK)

Focuses on the use of Microsoft Excel in introductory statistics courses. Discusses the benefits of using a spreadsheet application for teaching statistics and why Excel is a good choice. Examines student reactions to Excel in introductory statistics courses using a survey method. (CMK)

Uses a seven point Likert scale to examine the relationship between perceived teacher attractiveness, expertness, and trustworthiness and student judgment of teacher effectiveness. Correlations suggest that a more accurate view of teaching may be as an instance of social influence process. Urges further research to identify those cues that infer…

Training medical students in physician/patient interaction skills resulted in a reduction of the number of times patients failed to show for their scheduled appointments. However, students were ambivalent about recommending the course to future students. (RM)

A study comparing the performances and preferences of college statistics students in streamed and mixed-ability groups revealed that both types of class organization are workable, but students prefer varied abilities in small work groups. (AM)

Utilizes the Psychology As Science (PAS) questionnaire to examine student's perceptions. PAS consists of a series of statements about Psychology followed by a strongly agree/disagree option. Reveals an overwhelming acceptance of psychology as a science among students. Includes a statistical breakdown of PAS statements and suggestions for future…

Describes a six-week project culminating in a student-designed exit survey for graduating seniors. Exit surveys assess a department's strengths and weaknesses in curricula, instruction, and advising. Discusses the students' design and implementation of the survey. Students felt that the project enhanced their critical thinking and research skills.…