This study measured the difference of the effect on students' learning of Chinese as a second language with the use of Chinese television commercials with both audio and video and Chinese commercials with audio only. Subjects were students (n=201) at Brigham Young University (Utah). Approximately 60 hours of commercial television videos, most in…

A sample of 143 midwestern elementary and secondary school teachers from a variety of practice settings responded to a survey and provided comments regarding their assessment and practices. The study collected background (demographic) information on the teachers and information on some assessment-related practices, including: (1) the frequency…

A transportability study was conducted to determine if multidisciplinary knowledge necessary for elementary school teachers was also relevant for newly licensed (certified) secondary school teachers. The results of the study may be used to study the possibility of developing a test of multiple subjects for all teachers. Form 1 of the Education in…

The Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitudes Scales (E. Fennema and J. A. Sherman, 1976) are among the most popular measures used in studies of attitudes toward mathematics. However, the measurement integrity of the scores has not yet been established conclusively. Measurement integrity was explored by using data from 174 elementary school teachers…

Research planned to improve understanding of conative educational processes and outcomes is described. Over the past year, literature reviews have been conducted aimed at defining categories of assessment of student persistence, freedom from distraction, engagement, and other school-and-work related attitudes and motivations, both as learning…

This study of 570 (309 men and 261 women aged 16 to 60 years) undergraduate students in a small, regionally accredited, Southern church-related college was conducted to determine whether or not the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a valid predictor of academic success for students who entered college late in life (after age 30 years). Data…

A meta-analysis examines the predictive validity of three methods for evaluating the education and experiences (E&E) of applicants for entry and full-performance level jobs, focusing on federal white-collar jobs. The following are methods of rating education and experience: (1) Point, assigning points to the duration and type of past education…

This paper describes the development of a program to test oral and written language skills of students graduating from seven Hong Kong higher education institutions. The program's objective is to provide information for prospective employers concerning graduates' practical communication skills in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. The 2-year…

Not since the development of the objective paper and pencil test early in the century has an assessment method hit the American educational scene with such force as has performance assessment methodology in the 1990s. Performance assessment relies on teacher observation and professional judgment to draw inferences about student achievement.…

This paper discusses a study that sought to design an instrument for assessing the nonverbal ability of foreign language learners. The subjects were 28 educated Japanese non-native speakers (NNS) of English and 20 educated North American native speakers (NS) of English. Materials used were the institutional Test of English as a Foreign Language…

The major issues surrounding the problems in American education are intertwined and obliquely connected in ways that are not clear to the casual reader or to single-issue authors. This handbook was designed to provide educators with information to refute claims that the American public education system is in a state of disarray and imminent…

This document contains the 1994 edition of a publication designed to share information in the field of linguistics that is of practical, theoretical, administrative, or general interest. Articles in these issues include: "Ethnography Vs. Questionnaire" (Thomas E. Murray); "Differences: A Diary Entry"--concerning structuralism…

This report describes alternative assessments in vocational education, reviews examples from extended case studies, and discusses criteria to use to choose among assessment alternatives. Chapter 1 is an introduction that contains brief summaries of each of the six assessment alternatives to familiarize the reader with the range of the sample and…

This report summarizes statewide data and individual school district performance for Alaska's 54 school districts. The report also includes information on two state operated schools: Alyeska Central School (a correspondence school) and Mt. Edgecumbe High School (a boarding school). The report synthesizes data from school districts for 1994-95,…

The current trend toward site-based management in education, with its accompanying shift toward decision making at the individual school level, means new responsibilities and roles for principals. Principals are now required to be intimately involved in budgeting, personnel recruitment and hiring, selection of curricula and textbooks, and many…