The influence of listening to humor on creativity tests of adolescents is investigated. It was found that those adolescents who listened to the record performed significantly better on a creativity test than control groups. (Author/DEP)

The reliability and validity of essay scoring were investigated by comparing the mean scores assigned to good and poor quality essay responses of different lengths. Long responses had a significantly higher mean than responses of short or moderate length. Good quality responses were graded significantly higher than poor quality responses. (Author)

Teachers may be relieved by time burdens of grading every essay, and students may receive a positive instructional influence, through the use of peer editing of student papers. (JD)

This study examined whether adolescents' depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior were associated with discrepancies between self- and peer-reports of peer victimization experiences. A sample of 203 10th-grade adolescents completed self-report measures of victimization and depressive symptoms as well as peer nominations of victimization and…

Accountability in the nation's public schools has become a matter of considerable urgency since the 2001 amendment of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. Under this most recent version of the ESEA, as of the 2007-08 academic year states and districts must assess the mathematics and reading proficiency of students…

This case study explored sociocultural forces that influenced three 10th grade public high school biology teachers' instructional goals, instructional acts, and identity narratives related to the teaching of evolution. Primary data included field observations of classroom instruction and teacher interviews. Secondary data included informal…

The desire to improve educational delivery and outcomes has prompted significant advancements in culture-based education as a foundation for community-driven, place-based, relevant educational approaches that more effectively engage children and their families in lifelong learning and leadership. This article shares the early process and tools of…

The post-apartheid National Physical Science Curriculum was implemented for the first time in South Africa in grade 10 during 2006. A variety of new textbooks for grade 10 have been published. This study was a comparative analysis of three popular textbooks, one prepared to support the previous curriculum, and two prepared for the new curriculum.…

This paper reports on an exploratory study of the mathematical beliefs of a group of ninth and tenth grade students at a large, college preparatory, private school in the Southeastern United States. These beliefs were revealed using contemporary metaphor theory. A thematic analysis of the students' metaphors for mathematics indicated that students…

Using data from a national sample of 10,061 African American, Hispanic, and White 10th graders, in 659 U.S. high schools, this study examines whether students in certain school contexts may be more likely to experience hostility in school that is detrimental to the overall learning environment. The results from the hierarchical linear models…

This study examined associations between Turkish high school students' perceptions of their teachers' interpersonal behavior and their attitudes toward science and investigated what profiles could be discerned in class perceptions of these teachers. Data were collected with the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and the Test of Science…

The current study examined a group counseling intervention developed to promote wellness in adolescent girls at an alternative school. Findings indicated that the wellness intervention helped girls to broaden their ideas about wellness and to set personal wellness goals. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are…

This study examined how boys' and girls' weight preoccupation varied by grade level, parent-child relationships, self-classified weight, entertainment media exposure levels, and gender. Seventh-grade girls (n = 190) and boys (n = 132) and 10th-grade girls (n = 99) and boys (n = 67) participated. Girls were more likely to report weight…

Work-based learning interventions, particularly cooperative education, are a viable way to support the post-high school transition process, enhance work-related cognitive development, and increase the occupational engagement of at-risk youth. Using propensity score matching to analyze data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002…