Reports a study designed to encourage classroom teachers to use research-based criteria in evaluating curriculum materials for middle school economics. Criteria used for material selection stressed (1) product characteristics, (2) economic content, (3) middle school student focus, and (4) pedagogy. Found that materials were not particularly suited…

Asserts that the number of students who major in economics is important to economics departments because college and university budgets often are affected by enrollment. Reviews the number of four-year economics degrees since 1977-78 as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. (CFR)

Discusses problems of sample selection in explaining student performance in economics classes. Reports on a study of student performance correlated with class attendance, course dropouts, and homework. Concludes that any researcher gathering data about instructional effectiveness must account for students who drop the class. (CFR)

Presents a study of the effect of question order on student performance on economics tests. Reports that question order has no statistically significant effect on examination scores, even after including variables that reflect differential human capital characteristics. Concludes that instructors need not worry that some examination versions give…

Reports on a study of 6,718 college students enrolled in an introductory economics course to determine factors associated with successful achievement. Finds high overall academic achievement in high school and a strong mathematics background, especially calculus, were the two most important factors. (CFR)

Examines whether class size in the introductory-level economics course affects subsequent performance in intermediate-level economics courses. Studies University of Massachusetts (Boston) students who are allowed to choose large or small lecture classes. Finds that students enrolled in large sections received lower grades in subsequent…

Reports on study of whether the research agendas of economists who graduate from highly regarded research universities differ from those who graduate from lower-ranked institutions. Finds that, in econometrics, money, international economics, and industrial organization, research topics flow from the elite to the rank-and-file schools; however,…

Reports on a study of learning achievement in economics among five groups of third-grade students using the videotape instructional program, "Econ and Me." Finds that, although students achieved some level of content mastery, the overall results were not as dramatic as had been expected. Calls for further research into transfer of…

Designed to assess the economic literacy of high school students in Austria, Germany, and the United States, this research study involved the administration of an economic literacy test and gathering data on attitudes toward economics, on intelligence, and on moral maturity. The main focus of the research was a comparison between 11th and 12th…

The notion that reasoning develops in distinct phases of thinking as individuals progress from simplistic learning of facts to predicting integrated relationships was explored as subjects considered housing issues. Suggestions for developing and instructing housing programs are presented. Subjects included 13 students and faculty members at three…

Average salary increases for 2,134 faculty in the field of business economics are reported for 1985-1986 for both public and private institutions, as part of the College and University Personnel Association's annual faculty salary studies. Included are comparative data for 108,074 faculty at 174 public colleges and 193 private colleges,…

Since the emergence of the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) there have been calls for improved methods of assessing economics. Oral assessment has been suggested as a possible technique and this study investigated whether it might be used to allow students to demonstrate achievement in GCSE economics. The empirical study compared…

Average salary increases for 3,083 faculty in the field of business economics are reported for 1984-1985 and 1987-1988, as part of the College and University Personnel Association's annual faculty salary studies. Included are comparative data for 160,596 faculty at 216 public colleges and 266 private colleges, representing 45 academic disciplines.…

A study was designed to investigate the perceptions and practices of home economics teacher educators with regard to the preparation of preservice vocational home economics teachers for political participation. The population for the research consisted of 277 home economics teacher educators throughout the United States; 186 usable responses (67…

A five-part questionnaire was used to determine the degree of effectiveness of homemaking teacher certification programs as perceived by 362 vocational homemaking teachers in two geographical areas of Texas. Responses revealed the extent to which graduates of home economics certification programs: (1) felt equipped to help youth and adults solve…