This paper summarizes research relevant to the Austin Independent School District's proposal to move sixth graders from an elementary school (K-6 or K,4-6) to a middle school (6-8) grade grouping. A summary of the evolution of middle-grade education is presented. Three areas affected by grade organization are discussed: academic achievement,…

The packet of information is intended to help residential workers with disturbed children in the United Kingdom. The first section on theory contains two papers: "Which Children Come Into Residential Care?" (Robin Benians); and "Models of Treatment: Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Cognitive" (Daphne Lennox). The next section…

Causal attribution theory, including the concept of learned helplessness, has been used to explain student motivation and achievement in school. In this paper, a model is developed which explains how attribution theory could explain student effort and achievement in mathematics. According to the model, student perceptions of success or failure in…

The Cultural Study Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, has developed an approach for eliminating racism in white-oriented educational institutions by changing the attitudes and behaviors of those who control the system. The model is designed to be implemented as a conference consisting of six stages, each with its own particular…

The development of behavioral parent training research and changes that have taken place in the field over the past 20 years are reviewed. The author describes the evolution according to three phases. Phase 1, Early Work-Child Focus (1960-1970), is seen to have emphasized the analysis of child behavior change. Phase 2, Mid-Period--Parent Focus…

The noncompliant behavior of a severely multihandicapped 6-year-old boy was modified through an antecedent manipulation. Responding to teacher requests within 5 seconds was measured under three conditions: decreased commands, increased commands, and unconditional commands with contingent consequation. A multielement design employed across…

This study investigated the attitudes, behavior, and mathematics achievement of 200 second- through fifth-grade children who received a midmorning snack of nuts and raisins. It was hypothesized that a nutritious snack would counter low blood sugar in children who consumed a high-sugar breakfast or had no breakfast at all. Experimental subjects…

This paper analyzes role transitions in small groups within the context of a more general model of group socialization that is based on the psychological processes of evaluation, commitment, and decision making. The major advantage of such an approach is that it specifies why role transitions in small groups occur. According to the model, groups…

Systematic desensitization is described as an effective method for reducing test and speech anxieties in college students. Two standardized hierarchies, one for test anxiety, are presented to minimize problems in hierarchy construction. (Author)

This experiment attempted to condition subject's answers to a questionnaire about study-related behaviors using verbal social reinforcement and to measure the extent to which this training affected rate of studying. For five of the six subjects, significant changes in study comments resulted. (Author)

A description of the socio-demographic characteristics associated with student drug use is discussed. Findings indicate that while drug usage began to increase in the seventh grade, substantial increases occurred after this grade level. For all substances, drug use peaked in the ninth or tenth grade with dramatic decreases in the twelfth grade.…

An attempt was made to determine whether a behaviorally oriented conditioning approach, "covert sensitization," is more effective in the treatment of alcoholism than the commonly used problem-solving approach; and whether female counselors employing covert sensitization are more successful than males. Appropriate statistical analysis of…

Brief notes discuss current items of interest such as a behavior modification device for teachers and minicourses for elementary school teachers. (JF)