Examined developmental differences in evidence evaluation skills among school children, non-college educated adults, and college students, utilizing plant growth variables. Found that children were more strongly influenced by prior beliefs and missing data than were the two adult groups. Age and educational differences were found in the…

Compares students in two English-as-a-Second-Language writing environments: a networked computer-assisted classroom and a traditional oral classroom. Results indicate that while the writing environment has no effect on attitudes toward writing with computers or writing apprehension, writing quality improves in the computer-assisted classroom and…

Evaluated over 6 years a comprehensive treatment program for abusive families in Spain. Findings were similar to those obtained for similar programs in the United States and other developed countries. Lowest success rates were found for neglectful and abusive-neglectful families. Dropout and nondropout families differed in presence of alcohol…

Used kinematic measures to compare relative contributions of growing body dimensions, age, and walking experience in walking skill development in 9- to 17-month-olds, kindergartners, and college students. Found that with increased age, size, and experience, children's steps became longer, narrower, straighter, and more consistent, reflecting a…

Examined main and interactive effects of multiple social risk factors and preschool IQ and mental health on students' academic trajectories from first to twelfth grade. Found that high-risk students had lower grades and more absences from first to twelfth grade than low-risk students. Higher IQ and better mental health improved the grade point…

Examined how Chinese and American Indian mothers (20 mother-child dyads from each culture) supported their young children's emergent literacy development during everyday interactions. Found that Chinese mothers tended to privilege print-based literacy interactions more than American Indian mothers. American Indian mothers tended to privilege…

This study examined parent factors and teacher strategies fostering parent involvement and efficacy in a Canadian preschool intervention program in the Toronto area. Both English-as-a-second-language and English-speaking parent groups participated in school-based Parenting and Readiness Center programs with their 4-year-olds. Findings suggested…

Studied associations between type of placement in out-of-home care (kinship versus nonrelative) and selected outcomes in adulthood. Found few differences in adult functioning despite significant differences in functioning during care between children in kinship care and those in nonrelative family foster care. (Author/SD)

Investigated home-school alignment for primary grade mathematics reform. Three studies found that parents endorsed many reform classroom practices; in a comparison of word-problem scaffolding, parents gave more direct forms of assistance than did teachers; a pilot program to inform parents was effective--children whose parents participated scored…

Examined the academic success of children from farm and non-farm families in the rural midwest United States, with a focus on community integration as an important factor for academic achievement. Found that children from farm families showed the highest levels of academic performance, owing largely to the high levels of parental involvement and…

A survey of 724 freshman engineering orientation students investigated the significance of 5 literature-cited barriers to women's success in engineering--sexual discrimination, financial concerns, academic comfort, career awareness, and locus of control. Significant main effects were found for gender but not ethnic group. The instrument is…

Discusses the instructional effectiveness of various educational media, including illustrations; visual-based instructional media, including films, filmstrips, and television; programed learning; computer-assisted learning; audio-tutorial instruction; methods of group organization; and mastery learning methods. Research methodologies are also…

Tests for mean differences on latent constructs using the LISREL approach to multigroup structural-equation modeling were demonstrated for High School and Beyond data concerning the sophomore cohort. Senior year achievement test scores for 3,700 public and 300 Catholic school students were compared after controlling for background and sophomore…

A survey of one dental school's faculty concerning attitudes toward homosexual or heterosexual patients with either Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or leukemia found significant negative biases both toward individuals with AIDS and toward homosexuals. (MSE)

Describes study that examined the effects of using two-way interactive television in a three-course sequence of teacher education courses. Comparisons are made between distance education and conventionally taught classes, and the variables used are described, including the instructor's teaching effectiveness, feedback related to student progress,…