The construct of self-esteem has received considerable attention in recent years. Self-esteem is defined as a personal judgment of worthiness that is expressed in attitudes that individuals hold for themselves. This study compared self-esteem of American and Chinese children. Subjects included 446 American elementary school students from the…

In this study, we examined the introduction of ratio and proportion concepts in six textbook series from four different regions, China, Japan, Taiwan and U.S. When analyzing the definition of ratio and equal ration as well as the types of ratio and proportion application problems included in each textbook series, we found similarities and…

A reading test was constructed in English, Japanese, and Chinese to assess the validity of the claim that children learning to read Chinese and Japanese do not evidence reading disabilities. Large samples of fifth-grade children in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States were given the test along with a battery of 10 cognitive tasks. (Author/RH)

First and fifth grade students who scored high or low on a mathematics test were tested for intellectual ability and reading achievement. Students and their mothers were interviewed. Results indicated that factors associated with levels of achievement in mathematics operate in a similar fashion across three cultures that differ greatly in their…

Studies were conducted in Chinese, Japanese, and American classrooms during mathematics classes. Large cross-cultural differences were found in variables related to classroom structure and management. These paralleled differences in mathematics achievement among China, Japan, and the United States. (PCB)

Mathematics curricula in Japan, Taiwan and the United States are compared for concepts and skills, and a cross-national test of mathematics achievement is described. Among selected first- and fifth-grade children, students in Japan and Taiwan consistently outperformed their American counterparts. Achievement levels and curriculum content do not…

Reports the findings of a comparative study of elementary students in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, and mainland China. Contrasts student attitude and behavior, intelligence, and achievement levels, and teacher and parent attitudes. Focuses on the factors behind the relative slowness of American children to acquire mathematics skills. (KH)

Twenty-one elementary school teachers from Taiwan and 53 elementary school teachers from the New York metropolitan area were interviewed to compare the structure of talented and gifted programs (TAG), their strengths and weaknesses, and provisions for program evaluation. Results indicated few differences between the gifted students, their work…

This report describes the outcomes of a study that investigated how Chinese educators and researchers have implemented programs for the gifted in 11 elementary schools (28 teachers and 112 gifted students), in Taiwan. The most frequently used alternatives for gifted students in Taiwan were found to be separate classes and pull-out programs. A…

Taiwanese and American classrooms (grades 3-6) were examined, using a multimethod, multisource inventory. Multivariate procedures analyzed differences within Taiwanese culture, and between Taiwanese and American cultures, by sex, grade level, socioeconomic status, and achievement. The effects of achievement and intelligence were also studied in…

Over the last decade, it has been reported that American students lag behind their Asian counterparts as early as the first grade. This study investigated variables influencing elementary school students' mathematics achievement in Japan, Taiwan, and America. Children's mathematics achievement and cognitive abilities were tested. Children,…

Compares mathematics teaching in 280 first and fifth grade classrooms in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States in terms of time management, organization, problem solving, evaluation, and coherence. Findings show that classrooms in Japan and Taiwan differ markedly from those in the United States. (RJC)

Kindergartners and first through fifth graders in Taiwan, Japan, and the United States were assessed on achievement and cognitive ability. While there were few gender differences in curriculum-based tests of mathematics computation and reading, cognitive tests revealed gender differences in the fifth grade in all three cultures. (RH)

Recent calls for educational reform have focused on secondary schools, but results emerging from a cross-national study suggest that the reasons for American students' achievement problems lie not only in American schools but also in American homes. In the study, American, Taiwanese, and Japanese first and fifth graders were tested in reading and…

Compares mathematics achievement of children in Taiwan and the United States by analyzing the arithmetical learning contexts of each. Interviews with parents and teachers identify cultural beliefs about learning arithmetic; interviews with students identify level of sophistication of arithmetical concepts. Found greater understanding by Chinese…