Using student interviews, teacher ratings, and achievement test outcomes, a strategy model of student self-regulated learning was validated as a theoretical construct. Results with 44 male and 36 female 10th graders indicate both convergent and discriminative validity for a self-regulated learning construct. (TJH)

A study investigated how second language learners responded when native speakers signaled difficulty in understanding them. Types and frequency of learner responses were examined in relation to communication tasks and to native speakers' different signal types. Results supported the construct of comprehensible output, the influence of linguistic…

Utilizes two different experiments to test the effectiveness of a variety self-instructional training methods to reduce the dental fears of groups of 8- to 12-year-old children. Results indicate that high levels of anxiety impair the effectiveness of self-instruction. (FMW)

Investigates the effects of teacher praise and criticism on the performance and self-perceptions of Chinese college students using replications of two German studies. Discusses similarities and differences in findings in light of the Chinese teacher-student relationship. (FMW)

Reports a survey of sixth, eighth, and tenth graders to assess the relationship between exposure to television advertisements containing sports celebrity endorsements of smokeless tobacco products with attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about the use of smokeless tobacco. Reports that a simple exposure model does not explain the effects of…

Type A and B students (N=159) received contingent or non-contingent feedback on an aptitude test, attended a lecture from an expressive or unexpressive instructor, and received an achievement test and attributional questionnaire. Non-contingent feedback lowered perceived control for both types. Self-perceptions of Type A students were unaffected…

Examined whether and how the quality of students' explanations of chemical phenomena was affected by changing the method of giving the question and answer between the spoken and written formats. Concluded that there was no difference between the performance of students using any of these combinations of formats. (Author/YP)

Describes literature study groups in which students choose the adolescent literature books they wish to read, write down their thoughts in journals, and share their reading experiences in discussion groups. Notes that students respond favorably, actively involving themselves in reading and discussing books. Discusses the problem of evaluating…

Fitting item response models to data from 2 Advanced Placement exams (18,462 and 82,842 students) demonstrates that constructed response items add little to information provided by multiple choice and that scoring on the basis of student item selection gives almost as much information as scoring on the basis of answers. (SLD)

Practitioners (n=910) working with maladjusted children and adults (such as delinquents or those with emotional disturbances) were surveyed. Nonsupervised practitioners were not found to be more at risk for burnout than supervised practitioners. Practitioners who were considered to be more at risk of burnout were less satisfied with their…

Young adults (n=391) with and without deafness and their parents were interviewed 3-4 years after high school. Results indicated that parents and both groups of young people were relatively consistent in how they responded to the same questions, with more agreement in the agency assistance and community adjustment domains than in the high school…

Mothers of 49 kindergartners and 54 second graders told their children 2 stories about distressed persons to obtain children's emotional, physiological, and prosocial responses. For kindergartners, mothers' perceptions of children's emotional reactivity were positively related to their use of positive facial expressions, whereas mothers'…

The interaction of reading and computational abilities in solving mathematics word problems was investigated with the responses of about 20,000 fourth graders and 20,000 eighth graders to items from the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. Item responses exhibited different types of interaction, a finding with implications for item-response theory…

Reports on a survey of Russian teacher interests and attitudes toward computers and information technology in their classrooms. Finds that, although 68% said that they would like to use computers in the classroom, only about 4% actually took advantage of opportunities to do so. (CFR)

Discusses five variations of staff splitting, a psychological process that starts with seemingly innocent comments that fester in the subconscious of others, leading members of the staff to seek evidence of inconsistencies and individual differences. Provides explicit guidelines and insights about how to turn staff splitting into an opportunity…