The single most critical problem in teacher education is the absence of any comprehensive fundamental model of pedagogy which is universally accepted as a point of extension for testing hypotheses, accumulating knowledge, and guiding practice. (MB)

Compared the results of the adult learning of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) using an inductive approach as opposed to a deductive one based on explicit contrastive analysis (CA) input. It is suggested that a deductive approach that uses CA input in EFL teaching and learning materials is more effective in minimizing error rates. (54…

Examines infants' sensitivity to word units in fluent speech by inserting one-second pauses either at boundaries between successive words or between syllables within words. Results indicate that, by 11 months, infants are sensitive to word boundaries, and that this sensitivity depends on more than prosodic information or prior knowledge. (65…

Explores several aspects of Spanish mood use within the single dialect area of the Texas-Mexico border that exhibits two slightly different varieties of Spanish. Findings reveal an overwhelming variability in mood use in every example studied on both sides of the border. Age does not play any role in mood selection for either group. Other findings…

Tests three hypotheses regarding the use of object relative pronouns by native (NS) and non-native (NNS) speakers of Standard American English: (1) pronoun choice by NNSs differs from that of NSs; (2) "wh", "that," and "zero" are used variably by both groups; and (3) increased exposure to native speaking environments…

This report results from studies that tested two variations of Bloom's decreasing variability hypothesis using performance on successive units of achievement in four graduate classrooms that used mastery learning procedures. Data do not support the decreasing variability hypothesis; rather, they show no change over time. (SM)

Explains the design and implementation of a student research project called Project SunSHINE. Explores the relationships between ultraviolet light and humidity, temperature, cloud type, and cloud cover. (SOE)

Presents an inquiry-based research model for high school students to engage in inquiry learning. Provides students and teachers with a better understanding of inquiry and greater confidence in their critical thinking skills. (Author/SOE)

To enhance the study of abstract knowledge and to make it a central concern in the study of cognition, and to explore the nature of abstractions and the function of abstraction, the seven chapters in this special issue formulate researchable hypotheses, propose working hypotheses, identify major phenomena, and outline possible educational…

Describes study of undergraduates in business communication classes at Arizona State University that was designed to investigate how attitudes affect students' use of microcomputers. Results indicate that students with more computer experience are more likely to have positive attitudes toward computers than those with less experience. (15…

Describes study that investigated the effects of progressive phases of computer literacy on undergraduate students' attitudes, values, and opinions toward information technology (IT) and its applications. The Linear Structural Relations (LISREL) model is explained, and the implications of the findings of this study for changing negative attitudes…

Describes a game used in a graduate course dealing with interviewing skills. When following game rules, students are required to generate hypotheses and to engage in decision making techniques. Indicates student reaction to this exercise is positive. Notes that the activity brings about disinhibition in students while providing them with pertinent…

Thirty-five studies on the efficacy of special class versus regular class placement for mildly handicapped students were reviewed for the power of their statistical tests. Twenty-one studies had adequate power to detect a large effect size but the power to detect a medium effect size was no better than chance. (Author/DB)

Investigates the processes involved in the learning of Arabic subject-verb agreement by Australians. It is hypothesized that the amount and direction of information encoding motivated by certain semantic categories as well as the availability of discourse cues would influence the learners' performance in subject-verb agreement tasks. (27…

Presents a model that suggests the cognitive style and personality traits that are likely to affect programming stages and empirically investigates 1 portion of that model with 192 college students. Correlations between results from the Group Embedded Figures Test and design and coding tasks are discussed. (LRW)