Acceptance of claims made in scientific research articles depends on the "stance" authors take and their resources for "appraisal" (Martin and White, http://www.grammatics.com/appraisal). "Stance" has been defined as "the ways authors project themselves into their texts to communicate their relationship to subject matter and the readers",…

This article considers the question of the authorship of digital texts and their use by learners and teachers in higher education. It draws on the work of Foucault, in particular how his concept of the "author function" is applied by Poster to the authorships of the digital age. From this theoretical basis, the article goes on to…

Under pressures of increased demands for public accountability and decreased resources, the State University System of Florida has responded by fusing existing program review procedures with accountability reporting. The State University System began program review in the mid-1970s and found it most valuable internally for the individual…

The Spiral of Silence theory (Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann, l973) suggests that highly consonant media content has a strong impact upon individuals' perception of the opinion climate as well as upon their opinion expression. Noting that the theory lacks empirical investigation, a study took advantage of a controlled media system in Cheongju, South…

A study examined the attitudes of Pennsylvania employers toward General Educational Development (GED) programs and the employment experiences of persons who have earned a GED certificate. The first of the study's surveys was mailed to 100 employers (including the 50 largest) throughout the state. Based on the surveys returned, the study sample was…

Since recent rises in standardized test scores have once again raised the possibility of cheating, there are a number of things which a school district should do to minimize the problem. These involve: (1) informing staff, students, and parents about appropriate and inappropriate test-taking and test-improvement skills; (2) providing staff and…

A serious problem in the area of attitude research is the low relationship between verbal attitude and supposedly related overt behavior. A study tested a model derived from M. Deutsch's proposition on persuasive communication stating that for communication to be effective in a conflict situation, it must convey to the information receiver the…

Techniques for science writers are outlined in a handbook designed to help research communicators define their field and to understand better the world of the researcher. It is argued that the public appetite for news about science is considerable and that the public's understanding of science would be fostered through collaboration among…

To determine the source of perceptual attributions made about male and female communicators, 120 college students provided their perceptions about the speakers on tape recordings in which male/female voices showed variations in task and socio-emotional behavior, pronunciation of "-ing" word endings, interruptions, amount of words, pitch, and…

This study examined the effects of high and low communication inhibition on small group interaction. Communication inhibition was identified in terms of a scale developed through the factor analysis of the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker--Short Form, the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension--College, and Unwillingness to…

The effect of lawyer credibility and juror perception on trial verdicts was tested through the use of a videotaped, reenacted genuine court case. The reactions of two groups of test subjects composed, first, college students enrolled in speech communication courses and, second, persons who had served on a real jury within four years, provided data…

This book shows that building genuine trustworthy relationships between teachers and students is pivotal in student capacity to learn. Based on research by Miriam Raider-Roth, an educational researcher and former elementary school teacher, the book reveals what students think about their relationships in the classroom and how these relationships…

Results of this hypothetical courtroom investigation revealed that the sex of the witness was related to evaluations of his/her credibility and attractiveness when using hedges and intensifiers. Emphasizes importance of language style in forming impressions of witnesses and defendants; discusses results in terms of their implications for sex…

Compares preservice teachers' and scientists' ratings of the credibility of 31 information sources that teachers might draw upon in teaching science lessons. Discusses differences between elementary and secondary preservice teachers as well as implications for science teacher education and scientific literacy. (Author/LRW)

The co-founders of the Sudbury Valley School (Massachusetts) discuss how the school's philosophy is based on giving children respect, freedom, and support to find their own self-motivation; how play is one of the best learning tools; and the sustained public relations effort that has been required to establish and maintain the school's…