Implementing a qualitative case study, the researcher explored how a sixth-grade English language learner participated in literature discussions of various groupings in a classroom setting, and how she perceived these interactions about reading and text in the process of learning to read. The participant was struggling with reading in a…

The authors explored patterns of appraising tests in a large sample of 1st-year college students. Cluster analysis was used to identify homogeneous groups of 1st-year students who shared similar patterns of cognitive appraisals about testing. The authors internally validated findings with an independent sample from the same population of students…

A method is outlined for evaluating the reliability and criterion validity of weighted scales based on sets of unidimensional measures. The approach is developed within the framework of latent variable modeling methodology and is useful for point and interval estimation of these measurement quality coefficients in counseling and education…

This study evaluated the robustness of two recent methods for analyzing multivariate repeated measures when the assumptions of covariance homogeneity and multivariate normality are violated. Specifically, the authors' work compares the performance of the modified Brown-Forsythe (MBF) procedure and the mixed-model procedure adjusted by the…

Problem: The study sought to determine the common set of conditions and processes necessary to improve the performance of problem-solving teams beyond the abilities of individuals. Research Hypotheses: (H1) Controlling for differences in ability, the team scores of heterogeneous teams are significantly lower than team scores of homogeneous teams.…

Tracking students into different classrooms according to their prior academic performance is controversial among both scholars and policymakers. If teachers find it easier to teach a homogeneous group of students, tracking could enhance school effectiveness and raise test scores of both low- and high-ability students. If students benefit from…

Success for All (SFA)[R] is a whole-school reform model that includes a reading, writing, and oral language development program for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Classroom reading instruction is delivered in daily 90-minute blocks to students grouped by reading ability. Immediate intervention with tutors who are certified…

Purpose: This research investigates what factors affect the degree to which nursing home performance explains variance in residents' change in status of activities of daily living (ADL) after admission. Design and Methods: The database included all residents admitted in 2002 to a 10% random sample of nursing homes in the United States.…

EFL learners often tend to shift the major load of language learning task to the reading skill, due to insufficient access to the spoken mode of language. Experiences of practitioners as well as various research reports in the literature indicate that the more actively learners get engaged with the reading materials, the more profound their…

Those responsible for designing, maintaining, and delivering engineering education are asking questions to understand the outcomes of undergraduate engineering programs. These questions have been motivated by concerns about the declining interest in studying engineering, the continued lack of gender and ethnic diversity in the engineering…

This research aimed to explore the attitudes of teachers of practically based subjects (arts and sports) towards ability grouping. Teachers from 45 secondary schools adopting different levels of ability grouping completed a questionnaire which elicited their responses to statements of beliefs about ability grouping and its effects. Overall, the…

The California class size reduction program provided schools with cash rewards for K-3 classes of 20 or fewer students. I show how program rules made it possible for schools to save money by using mixed-grade classes to meet class size reduction obligations while maintaining larger average class sizes. I also show that this smoothing of students…

A technique is presented for partitioning N students into K groups of fixed sizes using a given measure of proximity for all student pairs. The measure of proximity is typically calculated from a set of variables and constitutes the data needed for a criterion of partition "fit." (Author)

In recent studies, some researchers were eager for the answer of how to group a perfectly dream team. There are various grouping methods, e.g. random assignment, homogeneous grouping with personality or achievement and heterogeneous grouping with personality or achievement, were proposed. Some instructors could put some students in a team better…