An interview with two adults who are fluent readers and writers leads to the conclusion that fluent readers get to be that way by reading, and by reading a great deal, from something of their own choosing. (JD)

Students who understand why physical activity is important are more likely to be physically active all their lives. (JD)

The case of S. Yamamura, a mentally handicapped (MH) Japanese who has become a famous artist, indicates that educators ought to concentrate upon the talents of the MH and use their interests in particular areas as a spur to further learning. (GW)

Tested the generalizability of the specificity model of environmental action to the domain of mastery motivation in infants. Found that the specificity model successfully predicted that aspects of the environment uniquely related to dimensions of mastery motivation, and that infant sex and temperament mediated the relation of environment to…

Discusses (1) how instructional objectives can become a constraint on students' learning, (2) how teachers need to help students overcome their fears about learning, and (3) the danger of fragmenting process approaches to learning into ritualized parts. (SRT)

Describes a study in which subjects varying in both language aptitude and attitudinal/motivational characteristics were studied to see how quickly they learned French vocabulary using a paired associates paradigm. Two different modes were used. In one, the stimuli were presented visually; in the other, they were presented aurally. All three…

Describes efforts in the banking industry to combine the reward elements of incentive programs with training activities. Concludes that incentive programs can be combined effectively with learning activities so that training is reinforced and learned behavior is also practiced. (WL)

The author, in his motivation research, exuded the feeling that the clinical supervisor, through the correct process of motivating teachers and students, could indeed promote instructional improvement and with it, learning. Through his input-process-outcome model he proposed a better fit between the nature of human motivation and the logic of…

This study examines the relationship between employee attitudes towards training and organizational commitment among a sample of nurses in New Zealand and the United States. Results show that perceived access to training, training frequency, motivation to learn from training, benefits of training, and supervisory support for training were…

Prediction of success in shorthand is difficult. Some attitudinal factors to be considered in adopting a more positive attitude leading to shorthand success are: establishing group cohesion, alternating intense wiht more relaxed activities, relief and relaxation coming from the instructor's personality, and; testing as an aid in the learning…

Research performed under an Office of Education grant yielded results which failed to support the hypothesis that increases in reinforcement (above and beyond knowledge of results) result in corresponding increases in amount learned. An IBM 1500 Computer Assisted Instruction System was used as the instructional delivery mechanism. (AG)

A survey of thirty-six outstanding reading motivation programs involving the media center and the media specialist is reported upon in this article. (Author/SJ)

It is important that radio programs designed to stimulate a desire to learn or a taste for information be at the same time good radio. (MS)

Competition may not be a desirable incentive in view of its possible negative side effects. Praise appears simpler and equally effective.