Describes a group training program for teaching social skills to juveniles on probation. The program teaches eight skills: giving positive feedback, giving negative feedback, accepting negative feedback, resisting peer pressure, problem-solving, negotiation, following instructions, and conversation. An eight-month follow-up showed good retention…

Assessed the viability of a modified microtraining approach to paraprofessional development using programed manuals and models. Therapeutic workers were randomly assigned to a model group, no-model group, and a control group. Covariance analyses indicated that training groups emitted fewer closed inquiries and had a higher interview empathy…

The Family and Child Development Advising Center at Kansas State University, created to centralize all advising functions into one operation, seeks also to explore the more personal aspects of the student's academic program and vocational decisions. A questionnaire survey of student perceptions of the centralized advising center is discussed. (MLW)

Reports the Black and minority recruiting program experience at a highly selective, specialized institution. Reports that this select population is highly recruited and chooses among several equally attractive options. Suggests focused counseling and earlier and more aggressive recruiting activities are needed. (Author)

Describes the results of a long-term behavioral/nutritional weight loss program, Eating Slim (ES) involving 36 trained therapists and 696 of 1,040 subjects who completed the program. Treatment losses in ES are comparable to those from other studies demonstrating that trained home economists can use behavioral techniques. (DS)

Functional illiterates from adult basic education programs, correctional institutions, and federal or city programs served as subjects in a test of the remedial instruction effectiveness of the Basic Skills Learning System (BSLS) using PLATO. Results indicated that BSLS is an effective system for improving both reading and computational skills.…

A study is described that identified a set of measureable skills, evaluated the effects of a simulated patient program on students' observed interview skills, and tested the ability of trained simulators to evaluate interview skills by comparing simulator ratings and faculty ratings of the same interviews. (MLW)

The Scoring High in Reading program provided a comfortable test-taking atmosphere and produced a decrease in test-taking anxiety. Although the difference was not significant, the experimental group did gain at a faster rate than the control group on the reading subtest. (Author)

Endorses the concepts of communication and cooperation as increasing numbers of business leaders and educators call for cooperation in joint planning and program development and evaluation to interrelate school and work. (Author)

Summarizes the findings and conclusions of a recent NFER (National Foundation for Educational Research) report which resulted from a two-year (1977-79) evaluation of the Unified Vocational Preparation pilot program in England. (CT)

State program review, generally asosciated with efforts to assess quality and enforce accountability, has also encouraged the states to look beyond traditional measures in evaluating their support for and investment in higher education. When access and finance issues meet head on, quality concerns may give way. (Author/MLW)

Criticizes Strasser and Deniston's post-planned evaluation (TM 504 253) because of their: (1) emphasis on evaluation research; (2) imposition of experimental rigor; (3) inapplicability to human service projects; (4) inattention to congruity between the program and its environment; (5) distinct characteristics of program evaluation; and (6)…

Evaluates a comprehensive project in functional literacy education piloted at five sites in North Carolina. Provides information on student characteristics, levels of exposure and achievement, perceptions of the project, and determinants of achievement, revealing growth in student achievement, but no correlation between achievement and length of…

A survey examined secondary school teachers' perceptions of the effects of program, student, and teacher evaluations on instructional improvement. Results indicated that student evaluation was most effective in influencing teachers to revise their instruction. Teacher and program evaluations appeared to be ineffective as change agents. (MH)

The association between an attitudinal/motivational factor and the acquisition of French oral proficiency is discussed. Eighty-nine Canadian students were satisfied with the intensive French language program while the 65 Americans were not. The sociocultural background of the student plays a major role in the development of attitudes. (PMJ)