This report examines the high school preparation and postsecondary persistence of first-generation students, those whose parents had no education beyond high school, and compares them with students whose parents went to college. The purpose of the study was to examine whether first-generation students who were otherwise equally prepared…

This report examines the relationship between high school academic curricula and students' persistence path through college, approximately 3 years after first enrolling. Data are from the 1995-1996 Beginning Postsecondary Students Survey, a longitudinal study of beginning postsecondary students who first enrolled in a four-year college in…

This article explores the interdisciplinary course offerings at 164 institutions that participated in a 1998 curriculum analysis by the Center for the Study of Community Colleges. It examines interdisciplinary courses in the context of the total curriculum, and discusses examples of existing interdisciplinary programs, the benefits and…

Explores why girls successful in mathematics choose advanced courses in upper secondary school less than did boys. Analyzes the results of tests and a student questionnaire (N=739) in Finland. Findings indicate that in the case of word problems and calculation without calculators, boys are significantly better than girls. Reports that the boys…

Discusses the decline of the number of students wishing to continue with physics in many countries. Brings together the relevant findings of two research projects and considers the effect of changes in the school curriculum. Contains 18 references. (DDR)

A survey of first-year and final-year management students (n=104) and 17 tourism employers revealed differences in the perceptions of the two groups regarding the role of foreign language skills. Results raised concerns in light of the demand for multilingual tourism staff. (Contains 24 references.) (JOW)

Examines the effects of high school course-taking on subsequent choice of science and math majors in college. Effects of course-taking on choice of science and math majors were stronger for women than for men. Findings are discussed in terms of career theory and counseling and education practice. (Contains 36 references and 3 tables.) (GCP)

Data were gathered from participants in a summer program at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University. This program was designed for academically talented minority students to promote their awareness of medicine as a potential career and to strengthen their science and mathematics backgrounds. (Author/MLW)

Reviews the science enrollment and achievement patterns of males and females studying in a new high school unit curriculum structure in Western Australia. The data indicate that lowering the age for subject choice is associated with a reduction in the amount of science studied, especially by females, and with the early manifestation of…

Asserts that issues of economic literacy have typically focused on the content of individual courses, teaching approaches, and the curriculum for the economics major. Describes a program offering an economics minor including curriculum requirement, student recruitment and retention, and the costs and benefits to the institution. (CFR)

An investigation was conducted to determine whether differential predictive validity, as detected in previous studies, exists for a recent sample of 3,703 college students. Results confirmed that the phenomenon still exists. For women, but not minorities, the difference in predictive validity appears related to course selection. (SLD)

Surveys 135 primary researchers at newspapers to see how they perceived job opportunities in newspaper research for JMC master's graduates and qualifications necessary for employment. Reports that more than 80 percent responded that job prospects would be good in the near future; respondents recommend a JMC program emphasizing a social science…

Examines two types of self-selection bias manifest within the evaluations of student feedback collected in the context of a workshop designed to help medical students enhance communication skills with cancer patients. Suggests that students least likely to give feedback are most likely to have critical or negative comments, thereby misleading…

Some of the projects designed to increase girls' uptake of physics are surveyed and some aspects of teaching physics in a girl-friendly way are presented. Possible reasons for the underrepresentation of girls in high school physics are discussed. The Girls into Science and Technology (GIST) and the Girls' Education in Mathematics, Science and…

Reports on the attitudes toward and achievement in mathematics among 7,169 undergraduate male and female students in British and Scottish universities. Finds large differences in participation rates between women and men in English and Scottish universities. (CFR)