Epistemological beliefs and relationships between belief in simple knowledge and mathematical text comprehension were examined in 2 experiments involving 412 college students. Regression analyses indicate that the less students believe in simple knowledge the better their performance on a mastery test and the more accurate their assessment of…

Three popular videotapes were assessed for their effectiveness in improving knowledge and attitudes about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). University students (n=144) completed knowledge and attitude questionnaires and then viewed tapes. A conclusion was that tapes about AIDS can lead to modest changes in knowledge and perhaps in…

This paper argues that, if teachers are to be held accountable for instructional quality, then the educational establishment must be held accountable for providing teachers with relevant knowledge and the feasible professional tools derived from that knowledge. Suggestions are offered for developing this accountability, such as field testing…

Discusses the frequent misconception displayed by students that chromosome structure is a function of chromosome number or ploidy. Provides detailed analyses of the evidence concerning the prevalence of this ploidy/structure misconception among students of introductory genetics and the potential sources for inaccurate communication that it can…

Researchers assessed grading practices in college personal health (PH) courses, examining students' PH grades and comparing them with other course grades for 29 semesters. Certain students completed the Health Knowledge Inventory before and after PH courses. Though PH students received relatively high grades, they experienced only modest health…

To compare the effectiveness of parents and teachers as instructors of a personal safety program, 61 low-income preschoolers participated in either a home-based, school-based, or control program. No significant differences were found between groups taught by teachers or parents. Both groups demonstrated greater knowledge of sexual abuse and…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) makes possible comparison of groups of students and provides information about what these groups know and can do. The scale anchoring techniques described in this chapter address the latter purpose. The direct method and the smoothing method of scale anchoring are discussed. (SLD)

Mental health counselors (n=90) rated 24 items as particularly important in working with clients with mental retardation or psychiatric disturbances. Knowledge and skills rated as significant included areas such as counseling relationship, dealing with specific psychiatric disorders, training clients in specific behavioral skills, and dual…

Results with 47 first graders, 54 third graders, and 52 fifth graders of high and low intelligence quotient (IQ) on a task involving recall of classmate pictures indicate that memory benefits associated with being an expert are associated with greater knowledge rather than with motivation. (SLD)

Uses data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress to argue that achievement growth in reading, mathematics, and science is possibly constrained by the (declining) growth and distribution of general intelligence. The failure of school practices to boost general intelligence would explain the disappointing effects of school reform…

Evaluation of an "Understanding Learning Disabilities" (ULD) course at Lesley College (Massachusetts) concluded that the ULD course was effective in expanding learning-disabled students' knowledge base regarding their disability and in teaching them to apply their self-understanding in a social context. Moreover, students' performance on…

A University of Limburg (Netherlands) study investigated influence of health sciences tutors' subject-matter expertise on the achievement of 1,800 students participating in tutorial groups with leaders having varying levels of subject expertise. Results indicated a positive influence of tutor subject expertise, particularly in interaction with…

Parents who smoke possess an adequate level of knowledge about smoking but still lack sufficient knowledge in crucial areas. Parents (n=60) expressed positive attitudes about their children and smoking and acknowledged their powerlessness to prevent their children from smoking. Discusses the study's limitations and offers recommendations. (RJM)

Students at Rutgers University completed a one-semester interdisciplinary course on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Questionnaires administered before and after the course assessed changes in AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Results showed that sexual behaviors did not change significantly. (SM)

This study examined the problem-solving protocols of 21 students in a grade 11 enriched physics course as well as 3 adult "experts" in physics. Experts and high performing students made more correct metastatements and more references to prior knowledge than did average performing students. (DB)