The construct validity of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) was evaluated with 94 kindergarten students. Results supported both the convergent and discriminant validity of the Social Skills and Problem Behavior scales of the PKBS. Results also support use of the PKBS for identifying young children who are behaviorally at risk.…

Psychometric evaluation of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) is reported. Factor analyses indicated the presence of a stable factor structure for both social skills and problem behaviors scales. Reliability studies indicated the PKBS has adequate-to-strong stability. Explorations of within-scale relationships yielded evidence…

Ten secondary teachers, enrolled in an induction program, participated in a year-long study to identify characteristics that can be viewed as important predictors of those teachers who will succeed and those who will not. Findings suggest that intellectual/academic achievement alone is not a sufficient primary predictor of teacher success. (IAH)

For 241 normal and 132 gifted fifth graders and 113 normal and 117 gifted seventh graders in Ottawa (Ontario), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses investigated the factorial validity of the Perceived Competence Scale for Children (PCSC). Overall, the PCSC demonstrated sound psychometric properties. (SLD)

Investigation of the attitudes of 1,252 children in grades 4 through 12 toward studying Hebrew at their private Jewish school in South Africa measured attitudes toward language learning, traditional orientations, nationalist orientations, motivation, and self-rated proficiency. Results showed that attitudes decreased in positive value over the 9…

Describes a study of 80 undergraduate foreign language learners that compared the use of a hyper-reference source incorporating an electronic dictionary and a conventional paper dictionary. Measures of consultation frequency, study time, efficiency, and comprehension are examined; bilingual and monolingual dictionary use is compared; and further…

Discusses whether urban schools' efforts at reforming mathematics should specifically address students acquiring English or assume students' needs will be addressed under the broader aegis of reform. The article addresses thoughts about the bilingual mathematics learner, curriculum, teaching, assessment, and evaluation in which collaborative…

The Bath County Computer Attitude Scale was designed to assess attitudes of students in grades 4-12 toward 5 areas: general computer use, computer-assisted instruction, programming and technical concepts, social issues surrounding computer use, and computer history. The reliability and validity of the instrument is examined. (62 references)…

Investigates Communicative Effectiveness (CE) and Grammatical Accuracy (GA) in fifth-grade students in intensive English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes. Using different types of elicitation tasks in a cross-sectional study, results showed CE and GA are not independent, but the relation between them differs as a function of task type. (28…

Presents a study to determine differences in effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) compared to traditional instruction of general biology students (n=54) for units on photosynthesis and introductory genetics and to assess students attitudes toward CAI. Results indicate CAI tutorials are no more or less effective in promoting student…

Presents the portion of a larger study of A-level British students understandings of calculus that deals with ambiguities inherent in the phrases "tends to,""approaches,""converges," and "limit." Responses to two questionnaires indicate that the four phrases generate everyday connotations that are at odds…

Describes the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), a comprehensive, classroom-based observation system for assessing teaching and learning, as well as interactive, psychosocial, and physical elements of the learning environment. The paper presents results of initial validity and reliability studies supporting the system.…

Reports the rationale, design, validation, and uses of the "Force Concept Inventory," an instrument to assess the students' beliefs on force. Includes results and implications of two studies that compared the inventory with the "Mechanics Baseline." Includes a copy of the instrument. (MDH)

Examines two student assessment problems (differentiating between assessment and evaluation and linking assessment to instruction and curriculum) and presents characteristics of authentic assessment in physical education, offering suggestions for restructuring teacher education to include formative assessment. (SM)

Discussion of computerphobia among college students focuses on a model program, the Computerphobia Reduction Program, that was developed to reduce computerphobic reactions among students. Personality factors and computer experience are considered, computerphobia screening measures are described, program results are reported, and future directions…