Emphasizes the importance of motivation in improving academic achievement among Black children; outlines what Black parents can do to develop achievement motives in their children; and suggests that Black parents can generate a motivating environment by understanding how their children perceive the world. (MJL)

A survey indicated that reading professional books and journals was regarded as most important, consuming four hours per week. Several days to two weeks per year were spent attending professional meetings (not found useful) and formal courses (deemed very useful). Major impediments included time away from home, expense, loss of income, and…

Describes several approaches used in trying to teach an adult to learn to read over a period of several years, including the approach that was successful (language experience) because the student was highly motivated to write. (JM)

The applicability of benefit segmentation, a market research technique which groups people according to benefits expected from a program offering, was tested at the College of DuPage. Preferences and demographic characteristics were analyzed and program improvements adopted, increasing enrollment by 20 percent. (Author/SK)

The influence of an adult model's degree of persistence and statements of confidence were studied with 100 first and second grade Black and Hispanic children from a lower-class, urban school. The model duration of performance and statements of confidence increased the children's degree of persistence. (Author/GK)

Criticizes Brown's (TESOL Quarterly, 1980) optimal distance model of target language acquisition for having neglected the issue of possibly harmful effects of sociocultural factors upon learners. A distinction is made between second and foreign language learners' motivations. Pedagogic implications are drawn. (Author/AMH)

Cognitive and affective components of learning in family life education can occur in a supportive atmosphere which invites risk-taking from students and focuses on integrating components during the learning process. Presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Education Section, October 14, 1977. (Author/BEF)

Discovery learning, defined as intentional learning through problem solving and under the supervision of the teacher, is discussed in terms of its advantages and disadvantages, with suggestions for its application. (JMF)

Describes the development, validity, and reliability of the Learning Preference Inventory (LPI) and its use with health professions students and practitioners. Use of the LPI allows identification of individual learning preferences with a fair degree of accuracy. Ways to improve motivation for learning are suggested. (JOW)

Discusses a survey on adult education conducted by the Helsinki (Finland) city government. The survey included questions on participation, experience, expectations, preferences, and hindrances to learning of 16- to 54-year-olds in various population groups. (JOW)

Motivation is probably the most important single factor in successful language learning. Provided the student feels he can use the knowledge gained in the course, his motivation will probably sustain him. Thus, student course evaluations are important. A questionnaire that was distributed to students to gain such an evaluation is described.…

Significant results favor positive reinforcement and high win ratio in producing shorter average times to complete a response. The 80 first- and third-grade subjects exhibited a preference for continuing the task under the positive reinforcement condition. (RL)

Previews research on motivational effects of discovery learning, and argues that, although there is general theoretical support for the view that discovery learning methods are superior to expository teaching methods in terms of generating intrinsic motivation, it is unclear whether intrinsic or extrinsic explanations account better for observed…

If a typing teacher makes maximum use of intrinsic rewards, it will not be necessary to use many extrinsic motivational devices. The implications of Maslow's "hierarchy of needs" for teachers of adolescents, and the basic motivational principles developed by Rowe are presented. (Author/AJ)

Relationship between women's motives for studying law and later satisfaction in legal work was examined longitudinally. Highly satisfied women attorneys were, as students, realistic in expecting practical benefits from legal careers. They were confident fulfillment could be found through work in law and found theoretical aspects of legal study…