American and Canadian research is reviewed concerning the language needs of native primary students entering English schools from homes where a language other than English is spoken, and a study is reported that contrasted the language performance of children entering school from homes where only English is spoken and from homes where a language…

A collection of research materials on sign language and primatology is presented here. The essays attempt to show that: sign language is a legitimate language that can be learned not only by humans but by nonhuman primates as well, and nonhuman primates have the capability to acquire a human language using a different mode. The following…

Research studies on the length and time scheduling of the school day, class sizes and teacher self-concept were examined in an attempt to determine the influence of these variables on the academic success and developmental growth of children during their kindergarten year and beyond. Section I reviews research literature on class size and…

A model program for freshman women in engineering has been developed at Purdue University. The program focuses on an experimental course that provides beginning engineering women and men with hands-on laboratory experiences, discussions of contemporary societal problems including environment, energy and productivity by various role model…

This book represents a synthesis of current knowledge about the physical, cognitive and social development of young children who live in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, Latin-America, and Oceania. The book develops five major themes: (1) It views child development in a comparative fashion, examining universal sequences in development as…

Examining the extent to which women were emerging as power actors in rural areas, data were collected from two rural communities (Prairie City at 4,400 and Center Town at 2,000 population) in 1962, 1973, and 1977. The hypotheses examined were: women community power actors will have fewer memberships in voluntary associations than men power actors;…

Presented in this document are numerous tables, graphs, and charts showing comparative data on various social indicators in Los Angeles County. Based on the 1970 census and other available public records, the data presented emphasize comparable categories by racial/ethnic groups, age, and sex, showing a consideration for the needs of a wide…

This document presents data on the relative influence of (1) maternal education, (2) race (or ethnicity) and (3) poverty on elementary students' academic achievement. Study results indicate that maternal education has the greatest effect on achievement. The data base is reported as representative of all U.S. children enrolled in public schools,…

A descriptive analysis is presented of four New York area adult programs in English as a second language or English to speakers of other languages. The following characteristics of the programs are identified: student constituencies, program goals and objectives, methods of needs assessment, program design (formats and methods), classroom dynamics…

A study was conducted to determine the effect of affirmative action on faculty hiring practices. Difficulties in looking for relevant data are outlined, and stories of some hiring decisions are explored in depth to provide concrete illustrations of the pitfalls. Data gathered from department heads on their perceptions of affirmative action in…

Using data from the older men's file of the National Longitudinal Surveys, two issues related to the labor market implications of dual economy theory were examined: variations in rates of pay among economic sectors (competitive, monopoly, and public) and variation in relative opportunities for blacks across sectors. The primary analytical problem…

This case study describes the introduction and consideration of a state board staff proposal that the more traditional Minnesota State Universities adopt external degree programs. A model for making practices congruent with policy decisions is presented. The process of examining the external degree proposal, beginning with the state board actions…

A survey of the directors of admission at 12 public and 46 private four-year colleges in Illinois was conducted to determine: (1) whether college credit earned by a student during the senior year of high school was recognized; (2) the areas to which this credit was generally applied; and (3) the factors considered in a decision regarding the…

The volume, first in a series of seven, discusses the Value of Children Project, a cross-cultural survey designed to analyze reasons for married couples' wanting or not wanting children. The sample includes participants from the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States (Hawaii). The…

Nonacademic factors that may influence recruitment and retention of black students at predominantly white colleges and of white students at predominantly black colleges in Virginia were studied. The study was designed to identify the special problems of these students and the nonacademic activities designed to address those problems. Twenty-one…