To test a deduction from Carroll's Model of School Learning (i.e., increasing a learner's perserverance will not alter degree of learning or learning rate), time needed to learn a task under an encouragement condition designed to increase perserverance was compared to learning time under a discouragement condition. As predicted, no significant…

Describes a study designed to determine preferences for various academic incentives among university education majors in order to create a database of the incentives most likely to be successful. Results indicate that the two most popular incentives were released from the final exam and positive comments from the instructor. (EAO)

Text from a speech delivered by the past president of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development declares that a liberating education offers students abundant knowledge, that content by itself does not liberate individuals, and that individuals employ knowledge in their own liberation. (MLF)

Untrained normal achievers attributed failure to adoption of specific task strategies, while untrained learning disabled boys attributed failure to task difficulty. Characteristics of learned helplessness were apparent in the impaired performance of the learning-disabled boys. Normal achievers appeared to have developed active and independent…

Data from the 1976 NAEP Science Assessment were used to explore sex differences in science learning and its determinants with controls for ethnicity and parental socioeconomic status. No sex difference in science learning was found, but a sex-specific trend in science motivation was detected. (Author/GK)

A Norwegian version of the Achievement Motives Scale (AMS) was administered to Oslo sixth-graders, along with verbal, numeric, test anxiety, and lie/defensiveness tests. Results showed the relationships to academic performance predicted by achievement theory. Even when related to the personality scales, the AMS showed promising qualities.…

Examined participation by (N=9) older adults in a literary discussion group. Results indicated that the impetus for elderly attendance was to learn. Discussed the effect of program design and location, group dynamics, and various facilitation techniques. (RC)

Reports on a study of foreign language learning in Australia's primary schools in the mid-seventies. The role of immigration in the development of second language programs is discussed, along with the extent of federal government involvement. A state-by-state analysis of language programs is also given. (PJN)

Golden Age 4-H Clubs provide opportunities for older persons to remain curious and creative. They can become vehicles for communication between the generations both in the family and in the community. Their development requires careful planning, incremental development, and clear participant motivation. (Author/SK)

The author summarizes a conference on learning opportunities for older people by discussing six issues: (1) perspectives of older people and service providers; (2) categorization of older learners; (3) learning needs of older people; (4) participation rates; (5) government policies; and (6) curriculum concerns. (SK)

Describes the application of an interest-centered individualized program for adult students in Nebraska correctional facilities which attempts to integrate vocational programing and life/career planning with remedial mathematics and reading. (SK)

The article reviews theory based research on the motivational characteristics of mildly retarded adolescents and young adults and highlights the need for more research on the motivational characteristics in learning among this group of individuals. (DLS)

An experiment was conducted to investigate the development of need achievement (n Ach), need for affiliation (n Aff), and need for power (n Pow) among 80 children between the ages of six through ten. A primary goal was to determine whether these motives are interdependent. (Author/MP)

The relationship between students' study processes and the structural complexity of their learning is examined. Study processes are viewed in terms of three dimensions and are assessed by a questionnaire. Learning quality is expressed in levels of a taxonomy. A study that relates taxonomic levels and retention to study processes is reported.…

Research on the application of descriptions of student learning to normal methods of studying is discussed, and a study is reported that examines student learning in actual working situations. It is concluded that learning styles and strategies apply to students in particular situations rather than to individual students per se. (Author/JMD)