This description of a teacher-researchers's experiences of surprise in daily practice suggests that moments of surprise are opportunities to develop and sustain reflective teaching practice. The experience of surprise is in itself an embodied reflection that can awaken pedagogical possibilities. (SLD)

A Canadian university study of 308 students' time use in academic areas used a model relating variables of social background, social psychological characteristics, time use, and educational attainment. Findings suggested that, taking into account these other variables, the time students spend on academic activities and paid employment has little…

One year after graduation, 38.2% of a sample of 2,214 bachelor's degree graduates responded to a survey; sample was reduced to 378 working in for-profit organizations. Wide variability was apparent in socialization experiences and adaptation strategies; many were ambivalent about remaining. Results suggest a need to address new employee…

Analyzed whether feelings have a disproportionate impact on the way people perceive and remember unusual, atypical people. The results of four experiments suggest that mood has a significantly greater influence on judgments when the targets do not fit a prototypical pattern, thus requiring more lengthy, extensive processing. (RJM)

A psychologist's research suggests that black and female students may have lower standardized test scores and academic achievement because they have accepted stereotypes concerning their ability. Critics feel the researcher, Claude M. Steele, may be overlooking other factors. Steele has developed a program a Stanford University (California) to…

Minority students are overrepresented among those labeled emotionally and behaviorally disturbed (EBD). But doing away with special education, under the argument that it is separatist and racist, will not solve the problem of race-segregated students. Lower teacher expectations for minorities is an especially deep-rooted problem that can occur in…

Six-month-old African-American infants' expectation of a visual stimulus was related to developmental measures. Reaction time was related to eye fixation in tests that measured visual recognition memory (VRM) and presented objects of different shapes to the infant. Reaction time and infants' stimulus expectation predicted VRM novelty preference.…

Presents study results on the cognitive-affective response to music as affected by three dimensions of preparatory set. Explores self-perception of musicality, attitude toward style concepts and valuing of music experiences, and beliefs and expectations of music listening. Concludes that perception of musicality, general attitude, style…

A study of two adult basic education centers compared 17 reluctant learners (early dropouts) with 20 persisters and found that, although reluctant learners value education, they have negative attitudes and experiences of schooling and drop out because of dissatisfaction with the lack of challenge and attention they receive. (SK)

Examined salary and work hour expectations of business students and influence of parents on development of expectations. Findings from 260 business students showed that fathers had more influence than mothers on both sons' and daughters' salary and work hour expectations. Males expected to earn higher salaries and thought it was reasonable to work…

Adolescents (n=349) completed questionnaire evaluating friendships, expectations, intimacy and attachment, and conflict with friends. Found small differences in friendship network across gender and age. Girls expected more from their friends than did boys, and girls' level of attachment and intimacy with friends was greater. Number of friends in…

Journals kept by 12 students in a life-history project who visited older adults revealed four experiences: (1) preprogram assumptions about how to interact with the elderly; (2) personal conflict over the inappropriateness of the assumptions in action; (3) reevaluation of themselves and intergenerational relationships; and (4) transposition--10 of…

A meta-analysis including 96 experimental studies considers the effects of reinforcement/reward on intrinsic motivation. Results indicate that reward does not decrease intrinsic motivation, although interaction effects must be examined. An analysis with five studies also indicates that reinforcement does not harm intrinsic motivation. (SLD)

Interviews with federal, state, and local officials about the federally funded youth-at-risk grant program found that federal and state philosophy and goals were similarly focused on developing community coalitions to address youth issues, whereas local leaders focused on developing school-age child care activities and viewed coalition-building as…

Based on 2 years' experience with 30 principals learning and applying a school-based, school-defined improvement procedure, this article discusses 3 sources of resistance to shared decision making presented in a principals' center environment: certain principals' personality characteristics, teaching staff composition in certain schools, and…