As the number of college students studying science continues to grow, it is important to identify variables that predict their success. The literature indicates that motivation and learning strategy use facilitate science success. Research findings show these variables can change throughout a semester and differ by performance level, gender and…

Seventeen structure-of-intellect (SI) abilities were tested as predictors of success in a Conceptually Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES) unit. Three SI abilities involving convergent productive thinking and one involving divergent productive thinking were shown to be significant predictors. (MLH)

Presents results of a study to evaluate a model that indicates which factors are most important in predicting performance in engineering graduate programs. Variables tested include honors won, undergraduate grade point, full/part time student, age, marital status, children, undergraduate institution excellence, and two levels of work experience.…

Analyzes data presented in a recent article (EJ 328 649) examining the relationship between A-level physics and mathematics and degree performance in engineering or physics. A grade of A in A-level physics predicted first class degree performance. (JM)

Investigates the extent to which thinking skills and mathematical competency would predict the course performance of freshman and sophomore science majors enrolled in physics courses. Finds that algebra ability and critical thinking skills were the best predictors. (Author/YP)

Part One of this paper summarizes six years of investigations devoted to the study of the influence that a variable called teacher "wait-time" has on development of language and logic in children taking part in elementary science programs. It discusses the relation of wait-time to 10 outcome variables. Wait time at two locations was studied in…

To investigate the effect of outside help in executing a successful science fair project, surveys were distributed to 356 participants in the 1987 Mississippi Region V Science Fair. Of this number, 147 students were in grades 7 and 8, 136 in grades 9 and 10, and 73 in grades 11 and 12. Students listed the number of hours they spent using outside…

Identifies the determinants of female junior high school students' intentions to enroll in elective physical science courses in high school using the theory of the Reasoned Action model. Finds that the intentions were a function of both attitude toward performing the behavior and subjective norms. (Author/YP)

Major findings and prediction models resulting from longitudinal research are presented. Discussed are the study design; variables, trends, and profiles; a follow-up study; and implications and policy recommendations. A summary model designed to explain this phenomenon is given. (CW)

One factor which limits efforts to increase the number of black health professionals is performance in science courses at the college level. This study is one of several designed to identify factors which lead to success in the sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana, a small, historically black institution in New Orleans. The current…

Piagetian levels of 126 volunteers (60 males and 66 females) were measured using the Burney Logical Reasoning Test. Findings demonstrated that the six predictor variables succeeded in explaining 58% (pooled male/female sample), 53% (female sample), and 59% (male sample) of the variance in Piagetian cognitive levels. In addition, since prediction…

High risk students in college chemistry are often identified by low mathematics SAT scores, low American Chemical Society Toledo scores, and secondary school chemistry grades. This study was designed to identify additional variables that can be used at the community college level as predictors of success in chemistry. The study compared students'…

The relatively large number of students who perform poorly in freshman chemistry courses signals the need for the identification of criteria that will result in correct placement decisions for incoming college students. Research findings have generally reported placement criteria that correlate significantly with performance in college chemistry…