Over 300 high school students responded to questionnaires in their sophomore and senior years which showed that the extent to which students perceived open social studies classroom climates over this period was related to increases in political trust, integration, and interest but to a decrease in sense of political confidence. (Author/GDC)

Data from an annual national survey of 251,232 college freshmen are presented, including demographic and family characteristics, intended majors, educational attitudes and objectives, political attitudes, non-school activities, reasons for college attendance, probable careers, personal goals, and income. (MSE)

Substantial changes in the nature of undergraduate student politics are reported, based on a 1993 survey and focus group interviews, a 1995 survey of student leaders, and two surveys of student affairs officers. As a generation, current students are critical, optimistic, and activist. Activism is local in orientation, peaceful, and rooted in…

Using a model of undergraduate student socialization, a study investigated how the college environment and student interactions with peers and faculty influence their political orientation. Results indicate that these influences tend to be of equal magnitude and that students tend to change in the direction of institutional norms. (Author/MSE)

Discusses a study on bilingualism and factors of ethnic identity in Saare/Tsaragi, a border area in Nigeria where two languages are used regularly. Interviews elicited information on language ability and use, language attitudes, and interethnic relations. Results indicate similar patterns between groups of bilingual ability and attitudes but…

Attempts to demonstrate the linkage between opinions, attitudes, and ideologies and to look for ways of explaining variation in opinions as well as in shared social dimensions of evaluative beliefs. The article argues that theories of discourse and ideologies, as well as the cognitive aspects of ideologies, should not be reduced to any partial…

Discusses research on political tolerance, noting that traditional civics curricula do little to promote tolerance, and that tolerance for diverse beliefs must be learned. The paper describes the development and teaching of a four-week curriculum for tolerance and reflects on the need for educators to foster greater tolerance among young people.…

Examines Mexican Americans' social identities and group political consciousness toward dominant White majority and other ethnic groups. Explores effects of intergroup and intragroup contacts on social and political identity attitudes. Evidence supports relationships among contact types, social identity, and political consciousness. Anglo contact…

Discusses religious influences on nineteenth-century voting behaviors. Demonstrates how such historiographic information might be integrated into standard teaching on this period. Contends this integration of religious materials will promote student understanding of the role of religion in U.S. history. Points out that historiographical study can…

Reviews Iroquois influences on historical processes leading to the U.S. Constitution and on its philosophical intent and content. Argues that the Founding Fathers drew parallels between native confederacies and ancestral European tribes, and eventually rejected confederated government because the more unified Romans conquered the tribes. Contains…

Examines the contribution of British television viewing to viewers' politics. Finds an association between heavy television viewing and political centrism. Finds also that television constructs a mainstream around its fictional output while preserving pluralism through current affairs, and that political leaning does not occur through repetition…

Examines and assesses the mythological dimensions of deregulation in the telecommunications industry. Addresses the underlying beliefs that deregulation (1) lessens the economic role of government; (2) benefits consumers; (3) diminishes economic concentration; (4) is widely supported; and (5) is inevitable. Argues against an uncritical acceptance…

Presents an oral history activity in which students discuss the relationship between historical events and their own lives, reflecting on their potential for influencing history. Points out that history flows in two directions, showing how events affect individual lives, and how individuals can impact on history. (LS)

Explains the goals and assumptions of the Political Education Project of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. Gives an example of the stories developed by the project teams as a means by which students are introduced to political realities in interesting ways. Reports two studies supporting the approach. (KO)

Orientation toward global and national issues of 332 Canadian and American preservice social studies teachers was assessed using the World Affairs Analysis (WAA). A sample hypothetical problem illustrating WAA and discussion of study implications for teacher training and K-12 instruction are included. (IAH)