The distinctive focus of interpretive research on the meaning of curriculum is described, and the reconceptualization of the practice that interpretive studies provide is illustrated. The illustration includes the use of an interpretive lens to assess curriculum differentiation in lower-track high school classes. The interpretivist's interest in…

National development, a worldwide rationale of mass schooling systems, is both economic and social-integrative and supports the human capital paradigm. The social-integrative objective fosters membership in modern systems of state and money exchange that pull people away from traditional ethnic, cultural, regional, or religious allegiances. This…

This study investigated the effects of self-directed videotape experiences upon the self-concept of delinquent males. The self-directed process is a method of self-expression, and included videotape recording and playback, viewing motion picture films, and discussions. The dimensions of self-concept tested through the Self Social Symbols Task were…

This paper presents a flowsheet model describing the interpersonal process of adolescent identity formation in relation to peers and peer groups within a social-psychological context. The model describes a primary route, a secondary route, and a vicious circle as pathways toward identity formation in relation to peers and peer groups. In the…

During the school year 1981-1982 a series of eight workshops were given in an elementary school and a secondary school in two different school districts. In addition socialization opportunities were provided for both faculties. The purpose of the program was to foster mentoring relationships and by so doing to help staff growth and development and…

This study focused on the concept of "team player" among women in managerial positions in colleges and universities, and among their immediate supervisors. Female managers defined "team player" in fairly consistent terms. The male superiors tended to agree with the women's definitions but also extended the definitions with the addition of stronger…

This study is a history of the societal-problems approach in social studies education as revealed in secondary school social studies textbooks used in Problems of Democracy courses from 1895 to 1985. The central thesis is that the definition of the problems approach and the problems selected for study by educators as illustrated by the textbooks…

How beginning secondary schools teachers shift from university-based to school-based practices was investigated. Thirty-one subjects were followed over a 3-year period through their preparation programs and into their second teaching year. Findings suggested that beginning teachers use conscious selection, processing, and use of information for…

Using a new approach to studying day care centers, this study focused on the total climate of the day care center and the climate's effects on children's social and emotional behavior. A theoretical model for analyzing day care climate is presented. The model includes variables such as job satisfaction, work atmosphere, interactions between…

One technique for helping children adjust to changing role models is bibliotherapy--the use of children's books to facilitate identification with and exploration of sex role behavior. Confronted with change in various social systems, particularly the family, children are faced with conflicts concerning their sex role development. The process…

This report uses motivation theory, social and cognitive development theory, and a construct, Definition of Reality (DOR), to explain why the black students of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) do less well on the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills as they progress from elementary school into high school. The report is divided into 8…

The unique experiences and situations that are common to black children and their parents are examined in the 14 papers collected in this volume. The book is organized into five sections, each relecting one of the significant environments within which black children lead their lives: the theoretical, the socioeconomic, the educational, the…

Although research in nonverbal communication is in its seventh decade, the origins of individual differences in nonverbl sensitivity remain. To investigate the relationship between family norms of emotional expression and nonverbal communication, 64 college students completed the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire, were videotaped while…

Eight papers focus on a variety of themes concerning the character of citizenship and the nature of education in modern society. For example, one paper explores the thesis that the traditional basic categories in which the requirements of citizenship have been conceived--ruling and authority, obedience and loyalty--have already broken down and…

Focusing on the influence of cultural background on learning among black children, this book examines black culture and its effects on childrearing, play behavior, and cognition and explores the development of curricula relevant to blacks. Chapter 1 examines distinctive features of black life in the United States, emphasizing their West African…