A project was undertaken to develop a means of simplifying instruction in postsecondary vocational-technical programs in practical nursing and auto/truck maintenance and repair and to identify related patterns of student achievement, retention in a program, and transfer of learning. Information obtained from a literature review indicated that a…

A study of the relation between the reading competencies for high school graduation and the reading demands of auto mechanics began with determining job reading tasks of auto mechanics. Fifty auto mechanics, the majority of them bilinguals, were interviewed. From this data about the kinds of information mechanics get from reading and with copies…

Automotive fuel economy was the topic of a study during which technical and background information was gathered, curriculum materials were sought, and curricula were developed. Technical information came from written materials and actual mileage tests of selected factors. Background came from written materials, field trips, and building and…

This is one of the outcomes of the work of the Massachusetts Evaluation Service Center for Occupational Education (ESCOE). Automobile mechanics was selected as a test development area because of the uniqueness of its curriculum, being controlled by the automobile manufacturers through competitive design and redesign of their products. Because of…

This document reports the results of a study on the feasibility of training smog check mechanics in California via hands-on verification of mechanics' ability to inspect and repair vehicles. The reviews of the research literature that compare the learning effectiveness of different delivery media tend to support the position that in learning, the…

A two-part study examined the relationship between technical troubleshooting behavior and the level of expertise of service technicians who diagnose faulty equipment. The first investigation addressed the differences in the knowledge base that troubleshooters bring to a problem. A group of five novice troubleshooters and five experts was given…

Describes a study to develop a demographic profile of the 703 students enrolled in automotive mechanics courses at technical institutes in Georgia and to identify differences in the educational goals of different groups of automotive mechanics students (e.g., day/evening students, and different age, racial, and employment status groups). (MAB)

This report presents the background methodology, findings, and recommendations of three studies that comprised System-Wide Tests of Occupational Programs, a 4-year research program to assess the impact of vocational education using various followup techniques. Part 1 focuses on Project CATCH (Career Training Choice), a followup study of students…

Recommendations for the improvement of the diesel engine and truck components of the Hawaii state certification examination for automobile and truck mechanics were solicited from 14 major private businesses repairing heavy tractor rigs and/or diesel engines on Oahu and a statewide sample of 21 trucking firms and other companies making extensive…

Reports the results of student-conducted field studies on attitudes toward returning lost money, policies on renting apartments to unmarried couples, college students' willingness to lend money to strangers, automobile mechanics' ability in diagnosing auto malfunctions, college students' willingness to reveal examination questions, and attitudes…

A plan was created for organizing and deriving the learning content of a multi-occupational, performance based vocational education (PBVE) Indiana high school auto mechanics program in vehicle repair. Three surveys were conducted. First, 498 businesses were surveyed to determine existing vehicle repair job titles in Indiana and ways to group these…

This monograph examines the apprenticeship system, especially in electrical and motor vehicle repair work, from two different approaches. A general introduction discusses the choice of industries and apprentices used as a basis for both studies. The exploratory study in Part 1 concentrated on attitudes and perspectives of the participants in the…

A methodology for inventorying the technical concepts relevant to the occupations of automotive mechanics, business data programers, and general secretaries is described in the report. Five general types of technical concepts are presented, consisting of specialized knowledge having practical use to workers. Through a process of development,…

A pilot research study examined the perspectives of workers in the machining, automotive repair, and printing and graphic arts industries on skill usage and the effects of technological change in the workplace. Research was conducted using site visits, job-shadowing, and in-depth interviews to develop the survey instrument, which was completed by…

Pennsylvania secondary vocational educators were surveyed to determine their commitment to student organizations, community involvement, and their job satisfaction. The 31-item questionnaire assessed the commitment to student organizations (Future Farmers of America, Future Homemakers of America, and Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) and…