The transition of speed into accuracy was investigated by studying different degrees of transformation in a task requiring different numbers of simple exchanges. Results with 100 university students indicate that accuracy is associated with cognitive ability to a greater extent in complex tasks than in simple tasks. (SLD)

Attempts to design a valid and reliable instrument to measure the difficulty of solo vocal repertoire. Presents the Ralston Repertoire Difficulty Index (RRDI), and determines the RRDI's ability to be used by voice teachers of all experience levels and to discriminate songs' difficulty into levels. (DSK)

Derives a general formula for the population parameter being estimated by the Mantel-Haenszel differential item functioning (DIF) statistics. The formula is appropriate for uniform or nonuniform DIF and can be used regardless of the form of the item response function. Shows the relationship between this parameter and item difficulty. (SLD)

Examined the performance of DIMTEST, through simulation, for unidimensional and two-dimensional data that exhibited ceiling effects generated through changes in location and scale of the theta distribution. Results indicate that the power of DIMTEST is reduced as the location shifts upward and the scale shifts downward. Considers the selection…

The paper will discuss research insights into student academic goals. Cognitive psychologists have found that effective goal setting procedures involves establishing specific and challenging learning objectives. Students who set difficult goals must be persistent while facing the risk of potential failure that could diminish their intrinsic…

This technical report describes the development of progress monitoring measures in the area of Reading Comprehension. Measures were developed for grades 6 through 8. Twenty alternate forms of each measure were created. Passages were written by graduate students and reviewed by the lead author, as well as teachers and panels of graduate students.…

Computer aided instruction (CAI) encompasses a broad range of computer technologies that supplement the classroom learning environment and can dramatically increase a student's access to information. Criticism of CAI generally focuses on two issues: it lacks an adequate foundation in educational theory and the software is difficult to implement…

The first purpose of this study was to investigate whether the visuospatial working memory (VSWM) skills of 15-16-year-old pupils with difficulties in mathematics differ from those of their normally achieving peers. The goal was to broaden the view of the complex system of VSWM. A set of passive and active VSWM tasks was used. The study's second…

Many researchers use information and communications technology (ICT)-tools to augment learning in a great variety of tasks. Their effects are generally measured in terms of intended outcomes. This article argues for the use of additional, more general measures to obtain a more complete impression of the effects of ICT-tools. The first study…

The development of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test involves input from educators across the state. The development process attempts to create an assessment that reflects the skills and content understanding of students at the tested grade level. This study attempts to determine other factors that can affect student performance on…

Being a teacher is a multifaceted process situated in contexts that deeply influence one's experiences and development. History teachers face a number of challenges while simultaneously holding particular goals for history teaching. Drawing on interview data from focus teachers with different levels of teaching experience, this article presents…

This is an investigation of secondary mathematics teachers' understanding of performance-based tasks with respect to the contextual design of tasks that promote urban students' engagement and pursuit in learning mathematical concepts. We examined the alignment of teacher designed tasks with their personal definitions of tasks; then further…

The authors examine the interaction of teaching and culture as it relates to students' perceptions of course difficulty. Course content was found to be the most important factor in students' views of courses. For a difficult course, "study hard" was rated as most important to the students' perception of course success by all ethnic groups. In…

Previous research notes the importance of understanding racial/ethnic differential prediction of college grades across multiple institutions. Institutional variation in selection indices is especially important given some states' laws governing public institutions' admissions decisions. This paper employed multilevel moderated multiple regression…

Today, the use of web-based videos in science classrooms is becoming more and more commonplace. However, these videos are often fast-paced and information rich--science concepts can be fragmented and embedded within larger cultural issues. This article addresses the cognitive difficulties posed by many web-based science videos. Drawing on concepts…