This book presents a systematic literature review focusing on studies examining teachers' participation in professional development (PD) within Germany, Austria, and Switzerland since 1990. It has identified 81 relevant studies and summarizes the results while answering the following research questions: What are teachers' self-reported reasons…

This article explores whether focus groups can constitute a culturally sensitive method of data gathering for educational leadership, management and related areas in a Gulf-Arab cultural context. Reviewing the literature on focus groups and cross-cultural psychology for the Arab region, it identifies key notions related to societal values such as…

Noting the recent growing concern for the theoretical development of intercultural communication, this paper reviews various interpretive schools of thought that have used qualitative research methods in either intracultural or intercultural communication contexts. Following a brief discussion of the differences between qualitative and…

Cross-Cultural psychology refers to the collective efforts of researchers who work among people who live in different societies, with different languages and different forms of government. There are a number of benefits to the study of human behavior which can be accrued by carrying out research in various cultures, largely concerned with better…

This twenty-seventh World Bank Atlas presents key social and economic information for every country on the globe organized under three headings, People, Economy, and Environment. The emphasis is on how these themes are important in the development process. A new addition is that of a new measure of GNP per capita converted at purchasing power…

Existing demographic analyses do not explain the negative relationship between population growth and life-support systems that are now emerging in scores of developing countries. The demographic transition, a theory first outlined by demographer Frank Notestein in 1945, classified all societies into one of three stages. Drawing heavily on the…

Professional review teams in nine Third World countries assessed a sample of children referred as probable cases (or as controls) from a door to door household survey of 1000+ children aged 3 to 9 years. Examines the criteria used by the teams in determining whether or not the children should be classified as severely mentally handicapped. (RWB)

States the issue of research methodology is a concern of comparative education. Defines comparative education as an elaborate form of mediating between cross-cultural data and social scientific theories. Presents analytical possibilities for methodological analysis and sociohistorical reconstruction. Includes an extensive bibliography. (NL)

This anthology brings together art educators from 21 countries to provide information about the past record of art education along with recent developments and future prospects. In "Part I: Historical Perspectives," the role of cross cultural influences is reported in essays: (1) "Quality Criteria Shifts in One Century of Art…

The global status of comparative education from the 1960s to the present is presented in three parts. Part 1 comprises a general review of the background to seven regional studies. The review provides a picture of the overall historical development; the modifications in the concept of comparative education that have occurred; the general…

Reports two studies comparing responses of Filipino and Nepalese students to learning process questionnaires to those for Australian and Hong Kong students. Presents evidence for a similar structure of learning processes in each culture. Concludes that little evidence supports the contention that Asian learners are more prone to rote learning than…

This literature review examines the "God concept," defined as the "cognitive or affective internal psychological representation of God." Most religions have a conception of God. In this review relevant literature focused on: (1) conceptual representations of God; (2) factors related to or predictive of these representations;…

This bulletin contains five essays on the theme of expanding the challenge of improving the quality of education to encompass the curricular, administrative, institutional, and teaching levels. The articles include: (1) "Educational Assessment Systems in Latin America: A Review of Issues and Recent Experience" (Robin Horn; Laurence Wolf;…

The Japanese educational system is highly effective and is frequently pointed to as a potential model for reform of U.S. education. Although meaningful comparisons are difficult to make because the cultures are so different, educators in the United States can borrow and adopt many of the practices that make Japanese schools outstanding. According…

Reports on a study of the influence of age and formal education on the development of moral reasoning among 215 Spanish citizens ranging in age from 12 to 48. Finds that moral development is highly related to both variables, although more so with formal education than with age. Includes five tables of illustrative data. (CFR)