This report describes one part of the Classroom Practices Study, focusing on systematic observations of gifted and talented students in 46 third and fourth grade classrooms. The observations were designed to determine if and how teachers meet the needs of gifted and talented students in regular classroom settings. The Classroom Practices Record…

A survey was mailed to 169 Kansas students in the 1993 class of National Merit Semifinalists (NMSFs). Data were analyzed in terms of age, gender, race, language, family characteristics, high schools attended, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, part-time work, travel experiences outside the United States, high school programs,…

A questionnaire on reading was administered to every student in the St. Joseph, Missouri, "Rainbow" program for gifted and talented readers. The same questionnaire was administered to a cross sectional sample of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in regular classrooms in the same district. Among other things, results showed that (1) 75% of…

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Fairfax County, Virginia) offers a comprehensive college preparatory program emphasizing the sciences, mathematics, and technology. The school serves students selected on the basis of aptitude and interest in the biological, physical, mathematical, and computer sciences, and who intend…

The history of test coaching has shown that positive benefits can be produced from short-term orientation, practice, and drill. Coaching on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) has been especially scrutinized for efficacy and has shown modest program effects, despite the limited scope and duration of such programs. The present investigation expands…

Perspectives on educational research are presented, and articles are included that reflect research projects that were undertaken at the Institute for Educational Research (IER) of the Human Services Research Council of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Articles in this collection include: (1) "Educational Research in the RSA: Trends and…

This study followed up gifted Finnish students who participated in Olympiad mathematics and scientific competitions during the years 1965-1997. Survey responses were received from 158 former Olympians (150 males, 8 females) and 169 of their parents. The responding Olympians had competed in mathematics (N=73), physics (N=50), and chemistry (N=35)…

Identified by a study of mathematically precocious youth, 107 academically accelerated gifted students were compared with 107 nonacademically accelerated gifted students. At age 23-25 years, the 2 subject groups exhibited few significant differences, and no evidence of harmful effects of academic acceleration were found. (SLD)

This study quantified possible changes in the classroom learning experiences of high- and low-ability pupils, which might accompany an organizational change from streamed to mixed-ability classes for science learning in secondary schools. Deteriorations in the quality of the classroom interactions of both high- and low-ability pupils were found.…

In interviews about the fairness of teaching practices, 113 high-ability students aged 6 to 18 years (in 6 age groups) typically chose peer tutoring as the fairest. High-ability students do not emphasize self-interest when evaluating fair practices. Children's evaluations of institutional practices reflect their developing conceptions of social…

This article explores applications of the Self-Organizing Maps method (SOM) to psycho-educational data. The study examines the psychological well-being, self-regulatory and motivational styles of pupils at elementary and middle school (N = 795). The presentation of the method appears in cases which are related to general education, special needs…

In 1989, a survey was conducted of Dade County Public High School (DCHS) seniors to determine high school students' postsecondary occupational and educational plans and to identify characteristics which students considered important in selecting a college, particularly with respect to Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC). The survey focused on…

College preferences and choices of a sample of high-ability high school seniors applying to colleges in spring 1984 were studied to determine the award of no-need (merit) aid to the students and the degree to which such aid influences college choices, in relation to other factors. A multistage model of college choice behavior was employed that…

This paper presents a discussion of several factors which influence evaluation utilization. Its purpose is to propose to Alkin's utilization framework the addition of one factor: multiplexity of data gathering methods. Two distinct discussions comprise this paper. First, supportive arguments for the assumption that this factor substantially…

In a study of ways to improve the quality of education offered by the School of Nursing and to provide a data base for future studies, the reasons for persistence or withdrawal of the Class of 1975 are examined. The variables examined included: high school rank, University of Missouri-Kansas City grade point average, and the academic and…