The study investigated retention of gains in reading/language skills after one year by 378 eighth-grade students in 18 health studies classrooms. Six classrooms were assigned to each of three groups, two experimental and one control, taught by health science teachers who were: (1) trained in reading/language techniques; (2) not trained in…

Autonomous Learning Behavior (ALB) as mediators between internal and external influences and performance on high level cognitive tasks was proposed as a possible explanation for gender-related differences in mathematics. This study developed a measure of ALB by drawing on teachers' working knowledge and the literature on problem-solving, including…

This paper presents an in-depth study of the effect of opportunity to learn (OTL) on eighth-grade students based on mathematics performance in an international setting. Item screening reduced the original 199 items from the Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS) to 152 items for which both OTL and p-values were reported across all items for…

The conceptual frameworks of Thai children (n=48) related to causes of health and sickness were analyzed using the "Interview-about-Instances" and the "Conceptual Profile Inventory" techniques. The results indicate that Thai schoolchildren hold considerable personal knowledge about the causes of health and sickness that does…

This study examined the effects of episodic-mapping, traditional notetaking, and rereading on eighth-grade students' recall of historical text. Episodic-maps are a kind of notetaking procedure that requires students to represent ideas from a text in the form of a graphic diagram. As predicted, both episodic-mapping and traditional notetaking…

A multiple-group, single-intervention intensive time-series design was used to examine the achievement of an abstract concept, plate tectonics, of students grouped on the basis of cognitive tendency. Two questions were addressed: (1) How do daily achievement patterns differ between formal and concrete cognitive tendency groups when learning an…

This paper reports the evaluation of instructional provisions designed to foster higher cognitive skill in a computer programming course. This intervention explicitly encourages novice programmers to engage in the problem-solving skill of planning. (Author)

For 139 students, algebra prognosis test scores and performance in seventh-grade mathematics best predicted algebra grades in grade eight, whereas IQ, problem solving, and prognosis scores best predicted achievement on a standardized algebra test. No sex difference in achievement scores was found, but girls attained higher percentage grades. (MNS)

Identified are variables affecting performance of algebraic word problems for eighth graders. An appropriate readability level would seem necessary but not sufficient for student success. The structural variables used appeared to be good predictors of both the correct strategies and solving time. (Author/YP)

The effects of judgmental and non-judgmental computer assisted instruction (CAI) feedback on the self-esteem and mathematics achievement of remedial level junior high school students were examined. Each of 44 eighth-grade mathematics students was given a self-esteem pretest questionnaire, completed a basic mathematics facts drill and practice CAI…

This research evaluated the desirability of science teaching as a career as rated by eighth grade students. An instrument was developed on which respondents placed their own choice of best and worst possible careers as endpoints on a 10 point scale. Forty-five additional careers, including careers in science teaching, science, and teaching of…

To investigate the factors determining why some children succeed at certain intellectual tasks while others of equal or near equal IQ, age, and motivation are unable to master the same task, 145 female and 144 male eighth grade students were administered "An Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks" (IPDT). Labeled as concrete,…

Examined are the sex differences in mathematics achievement from a cross-cultural perspective using the data of the Second International Mathematics Study. The overall sex differences in geometry and measurement areas are reported. It was found that differences among countries were greater than sex differences. (YP)

The research reported in this study was done to evaluate the understandings developed by students who meet science concepts through a textbook. Findings indicated that concrete concepts were better understood by eighth grade students than formal concepts and that students achieved some understanding of some formal concepts. (CW)

Interviews 2,645 eighth-grade West German male and female students to determine: (1) the computer experience gained by students in their leisure time; (2) the knowledge they would like to acquire at school; and (3) the influence of vocational orientation on students' readiness to learn about computers. Describes pre-conditions and develops…