A discussion of factors associated with evaluation of proposed alternative educational systems is presented in brief form. Emphasis is given to enumeration of critical characteristics serving as the basis of comparison, examination of alternative systems in terms of each characteristic, and determination based on the comparison as to whether the…

Investigations show that the nature of conditions affecting motivation influences test performance more than variations in the manner of presentation or in the program strategy. These findings are considered more useful in the designing of teacher programs than reliance on a computer. (Text is in German.) (Author/AM)

Condensed from "Phi Delta Kappan," Volume 50 (December 1968), 228-30.

Investigators assessing the effect of motivation on performance rarely report the effect of performance on motivation. College students (N=48), preselected by anxiety scores, were tested on adjective pairs lists; additionally, anxiety was measured before and after task performance. Results showed that anxiety had a marked effect on verbal learning…

The relationship between anxiety, educational self-theory, and vocational preference was investigated using two separate samples (149 and 262) of high school students. Anxiety was measured using the anxiety component of Zuckerman's Affect Adjective Checklist (AACL). A measure of self-theory was obtained via the Profile of Read/Ideal Scholastic…

Social, aptitudinal, and attitudinal factors that influence acquisition of a second language can also have an effect on the subsequent retention of that language. "Retention" is the maintenance or improvement of proficiency in a language following its acquisition. A study by G. Edwards shows that long-term retention of linguistic and…

A Swedish study was conducted to examine how the experiences of work and leisure affect expectancy and valence in relation to interest in participating in adult education. A cross sectional sample of 945 persons with short previous formal education was interviewed. The results indicated the existence of an integrated relationship between work and…

An approach to evaluating the appropriateness of student effort within a mastery instructional system was developed, and the interrelationship of achievement motivation, effort and achievement was investigated. In support of a prominent theory of classroom learning, appropriate effort was strongly correlated with student achievement even when…

Participants and staff of the Mott Institute for Community Improvement (at Michigan State University) report on experimental work in preparing teachers for inner city public schools. In the opening chapter, a five-level program of spiralling involvement in inner city schools for teacher candidates is diagramed, and there are brief descriptions of…

RESEARCH IN THE LEARNING, MOTIVATION, AND PERCEPTION OF MENTAL RETARDATES IS ESSENTIAL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR BEHAVIOR AND OF THEIR ABILITIES. MANY INVESTIGATORS HAVE USED THE PROBLEMS AND DESIGNS OF RESEARCH WITH LOWER ANIMALS IN STUDYING THE BEHAVIOR OF HUMAN RETARDATES. IT IS QUESTIONABLE THAT SUCH ORIENTATION WILL REALLY ADD TO THE…

This study examined the effects of the need to achieve, as measured by a behavioral checklist, on reading achievement. Subjects were 96 students enrolled in a southwestern Mississippi school district; 32 students were randomly selected from each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Each subject was then tested in reading achievement, IQ, and…

To investigate the attributional processes mediating between outcome and expectancies and persistence, children's expectancies, attributions and response latency were measured. Children, equally divided into three age groups (three-five, six-eight, nine-twelve) were shown figures to match and were provided with experimentally controlled feedback…

Five papers given at the International Reading Association conference held in conjunction with a National Council for the Social Studies conference in 1968 are presented in this work. Although each paper is addressed to a different subtopic, there is the common theme of the role that reading can play in social studies instruction. The subtopics…