The purpose of this study was to examine the home and school effects on science achievement of 12th-grade students (N=2,277) in Israel. Significant correlates of achievement included home environment, quantity of instruction, interest, and motivation. (IAH)

Results from Biology Cognitive Preference Inventory taken by grade 12 Jewish (N=406) and Arab (N=297) biology majors revealed similarities between cognitive preferences, achievement, and background variables. Reports that, in spite of substantial cultural and home differences, both groups became oriented toward principles/questioning rather than…

The performance of 254 Israeli twelfth graders on multiple-choice tests with positive or negative item stems was studied. For items requiring low cognitive reasoning, performance does not differ, but, for items requiring high cognitive reasoning, the negative mode is more difficult. Implications for test construction are discussed. (SLD)

An investigation of biology matriculation tests in Israel was undertaken to assess the use of justifications with multiple-choice items and to compare the effect of three item formats on students' performance. More specifically, the study was designed to determine the: (1) extent to which justifications will differ if the correct answer is made…

Survey data were analyzed from 14- and 17-year-old Israeli students--1,990 ninth graders and 2,000 twelfth graders, respectively--involved in the Second International Science Study. The effects of ethnic origin (Afro-Asian versus European/American) and gender on high school student achievement, interest/motivation, attitudes, and self-concept…