This research study was based upon a national survey in March 1992, conducted to assess the economic literacy of the U.S. public. The survey data were used to measure the economic knowledge of the public, to identify factors that affect economic knowledge, and to evaluate the influence of economic knowledge on public opinion about current economic…

A study of over 3,000 U.S. high school students who took the Test of Economic Literacy (TEL) in 1986 reveals a lack of basic understanding in the four basic TEL concept clusters of fundamental economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. The TEL was administered pre- and posttest where students were enrolled in one of…

The Survey on Economic Attitudes (SEA), which consists of two affective domain instruments for measuring student attitudes toward economics and their relative economic attitude sophistication, was found to be valid and reliable. Uses and limitations of the SEA are also discussed. The survey is included in the article's appendix. (Author/RM)

Reports results of a teacher in-service program that provided instruction in economics as part of the Unified Sciences and Mathematics for Elementary School Program. Findings from tests of teacher and student knowledge and attitudes toward economics indicated that many participants gained substantial benefits from program participation. (DB)

Discusses seven issues affecting assessment: (1) selection of texts, (2) use of oral and written assignments, (3) characteristics of grades and evaluation, (4) opportunities for self-assessment, (5) retention of learning, (6) psychology of students, and (7) the development of new tests. Suggests ways that economics faculty can improve assessment…

Describes an empirical evaluation of the relationship between study time and achievement. Discusses a model describing student determination and allocation of study time in a given period. Concludes that test results fail to support the theory that college students identify and use study time in order to maximize achievement. (KO)

An explanation of the statistical problems encountered in economics education research with using ordinary least squares (OLS) rather than two-stage least squares (TSLS) in the context of simultaneous structural equations is provided. When endogeneous variables are simultaneously related in a system of equations, alternative statistical estimation…

The instrument,"Survey on Economic Attitudes", developed to assess attitudes toward economics as a subject and attitudes toward economic issues, should find many uses in research or evaluation studies. Data on reliability, validity, and norms obtained from a national sample of high school students and college professors are discussed.…

Investigates whether International Economic Exchange Program (IEEP) seminars for teachers had a beneficial effect on the economic understanding of their students. Shows a larger increase in the economic understanding of students of teachers who participated in the IEEP seminars compared with students of teachers who did not. (RLH)

Critiques William Becker, William Greene, and Sherwin Rosen's review of the research regarding the teaching and learning of high school economics. Calls for sharper definitions of research models to improve focus. Explains a distinction between stock and flow models, and asks for elaboration on topics covered. Suggests examining textbook…

Presents study which extends the analysis of economic understanding and attitudes of high school students using a national data set of the Test of Economic Literacy (TEL). Using matched pre- and posttest scores, the study investigated factors that explained level of posttest economic achievement or attitudes and analyzed reasons for gains in…

Presents an evaluation of "Trade-offs," a series of television/film economic education programs for children ages 9 to 14. Results indicate that "Trade-offs" was effective in all classes, but students who viewed the films and whose teachers attended the inservice course made the greatest gains. (Author/KC)

Investigates trends in the percentage of high school graduates taking economics using data from the "1994 High School Transcript Study" (HSTS) that analyzes the transcripts of approximately 25,000 students who graduated in 1994. Indicates that about 44 percent of high school graduates took a course in economics in 1994. (CMK)

This study presents an analysis of economics instruction for high school students in various nations in the world and a rationale for economics instruction in Russia to develop a market-oriented economy. The development of the present economic curriculum in the United States is traced and the "Framework for Teaching Economics" (1977),…

This paper discusses a survey undertaken to assess the attitudes of over 2,000 high school students towards economic issues and economics courses. The premise of the survey was that more studies evaluating economics instruction at the high school level overemphasize achievement and knowledge outcomes and fail to measure attitude outcomes. The…