Studies the effectiveness of an educational presentation and the influence of extreme attitudes toward gay men and lesbians on adolescent learning and retention of information about AIDS and HIV transmission. Finds (1) significant increases in knowledge and (2) students with extreme positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians learn more than…

This article takes a functional approach to relationships between make-believe play and language development. It is argued that play and early literacy share similarities of function and social context, and therefore both prepare children for similar symbol-using processes. Transformation from oral language to literacy and implications for…

In 5 experiments, assessments were made of subjects' understandings of the dynamics of wheels. The subjects--111 undergraduates and 19 high school physics teachers--made highly erroneous dynamical judgments about this commonplace event, both in explicit problem-solving contexts and when viewing ongoing events. Findings are related to accounts of…

Examined high-risk sexual behavior in adolescents (N=212) involved in juvenile justice system. Found that youth were at high risk for unintended pregnancy, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and other sexually transmitted disease. Compared to national norms, sample reported very early mean age at first intercourse and high rate of pregnancy. Most…

The paper reviews the literature on: the vulnerability of adolescents to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); specific factors that put adolescents at risk, including sexual activity, drug use, race and ethnicity, and lack of knowledge of risk; the special case of adolescents with learning disabilities; and the need for AIDS education. (JDD)

Methods of assessing the general goals for the Pediatric Dentistry Department at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry are discussed. Goals are: (1) to prepare dentists to provide comprehensive dental care for the pediatric patient; (2) to create positive attitudes toward pediatric dentistry; (3) to encourage students to seek to…

The physiological and psychological stresses that have an impact on the ability of humans to achieve space habitation and nursing's role in that endeavor are discussed. The nursing knowledge base needed to establish the discipline as a major contributor to space health science is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A study of acquisition of the alphabetic principle in 64 preliterate children, aged 3 to 5 years, is reported. It appears that phonemic awareness and grapheme-phoneme knowledge are needed in combination for acquisition of the alphabetic principle. Once gained, alphabetic insight proved relatively robust. (TJH)

A medical school course on medical ignorance provides a series of seminars and clinical and laboratory experiences dealing with the extent of medical knowledge and ignorance as it relates to the practice of medicine and the physician's relationship with patients. (MSE)

A survey of 264 students with disabilities at 14 Canadian universities found most students rated their institutions' policies concerning disabilities as adequate for their own needs but only poor to good in general. Students at small universities were only slightly more satisfied than students at larger institutions. Many were unaware of relevant…

A study of the validity of student ratings of college faculty focused on the relationship of student outcomes to faculty ratings. Subjects were students of 36 full-time instructors; outcome measures included subject matter knowledge, student self-ratings, and measures of short- and long-term motivation (interest in the subject matter). Results…

Reports results from an evaluation of "Living with Sunshine," a resource to help teachers encourage positive sun-related conduct by children ages 6-8. Results indicate that children who used the materials were knowledgeable about the sun's effects and aware of sun protection methods. Both teachers and students responded enthusiastically…

Four experiments involving 440 college students in the Philippines and United States examined the effects of symbolic knowledge and problem-information context on translating relational statements into mathematical equations. Results indicate that symbolic knowledge is not always easily accessible in contexts that differ from ordinary…

Discusses the role and consistency of judges' interpretations of teacher performance as part of an evaluative scheme for complex performance, with reference to the ideological framework of professional standards. The tension between assessment decisions and the recognition that assessment involves interpretation is explored. (SLD)

Suggests that asking children to color within the lines does not stifle their creativity but is similar to expecting children to stand in line for the bus or write neatly. Proposes that expecting students to color within the lines is establishing a basis of knowledge and control from which they can eventually explore more creative avenues of…