This study compares the concept of human nature in Germany, Java, and the United States. The study assumes cross-cultural similarities in the formal structure of the concept of human nature, while hypothesizing variation in content, for example, in the value systems. Four components of the concept of human nature were presented (personality…

This digest reviews the literature related to learning styles of American Indian and Alaskan Native students. Several studies show that in some tribes, observation, self-testing in private, and then demonstration of a task for approval are essential steps in learning. Indian children often hesitate to participate in large and small-group…

The relationship between perceptual structure and individual differences in cognitive ability was studied through a computerized inductive reasoning task performed by 100 college undergraduates at Cleveland State University (Ohio). Measures included two psychometric tests and a set of four computerized cognitive tasks. Two components of perceptual…

This document comprises three booklets that serve as a foundation for understanding the cultural diversity and values of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese students. Each booklet reviews the country's history and geography. "Introduction to Cambodian Culture" (S. Chhim) discusses the following topics: (1) the Khmer concept of individual…

This booklet about the cultural background of Vietnam is one of three booklets that serve as a foundation for understanding the cultural diversity and values of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese students. Vietnam is located on the eastern coast of the Indochinese peninsula and has a population of 56 million. Its history is divided into the…

The occupational-environmental typology (Holland, 1985) is based on a theory of persons and work environments. The theory uses a classification of persons and work environments to describe differences and similarities. The theory explains career choice and persistence, attraction and retention of workers, job satisfaction, and environmental…

A study explored the extent to which preexisting characteristics influenced a student's performance in class by examining students'"willingness to communicate,""conflict mode," and general personality traits. Sixty-five male and 160 female undergraduate students at an eastern university participated in the study. The sample…

This technical report describes a series of three studies designed to instruct students in the relationship between texts, comprehension questions, and two sources of answer information--the text to which a given question refers and their own background knowledge. The focus of the technical report is on individual differences in the amount and…

Of all cognitive styles, field dependence/independence (FD/I) is by far the most researched and has the greatest application potential to educational problems. Briefly stated, the FD/I dimension refers to people's ability to experience and interpret their environment in terms of a global versus analytic continuum. Field dependents are likely to…

In the past, the process of education was one of training--the learner was encouraged to follow the ways of priests, parents, professors, and patriarchs. This system works well as long as two conditions exist: if there are few modifications in the society and if people remain in the same place. Increasingly, the opposite conditions are true: few,…

To determine whether individual differences in student achievement and learning rate are reduced or eliminated by mastery instruction, 166 Navy trainees who had completed a computer-managed course in basic electricity and electronics were cluster-analyzed into groups, using 24 measures of cognitive characteristics. Discriminant analyses were…

The five papers in this section of the TESOL volume examine the nature of language learning, characteristics of different language learners, the nature of the supportive environment for language development, and the differences which exist between first and second language patterns of interaction. The following articles are included: (1)…

There are close relationships between brain activities and educational technology. Brain is very important and so complicated part in our bodies. From long time scientists pay attention to that part and did many experiments, but they just reached little information like a drop in the sea. However from time to time they gave us some light to…

Noting that there are a number of methods exist for dealing with people who have trouble communicating readily or well, this workshop document reviews developments in the field of communication apprehension (CA) in recent years and points out resources that provide specific details for those interested in providing instructional answers to CA at…

While teachers are becoming increasingly aware of different learning styles, they have generally rejected the practical use of learning styles in the classroom. This bulletin summarizes theories and findings on learning styles, demonstrates their use in exceptional and regular classrooms, and offers recommendations for those who want to use the…