Recognizing the importance of early experience to job satisfaction and commitment, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of support from administration on the induction and retention of 457 beginning public school, special education teachers. Secondary analysis techniques were applied to information derived from the 1987-88 cross…

This study surveyed a sample of 81 former students from the graduate research methods course in the School of Education and Related Professional Studies at Rowan College (New Jersey), between 1985 and 1992. The findings show that while students who have completed a research methods course at the graduate level find the content useful, especially…

The Workplace Project (WPP) at Alpena Community College, in Michigan, uses a range of assessment instruments to measure learner performance in workplace classes. The Test of Adult Basic Education is administered at the beginning of the course to establish a baseline standardized test score, and again at the end of course to measure gains. Also,…

Although it is now widely recognized that the middle years are a time of development and transition rather than of stasis followed by decline, existing literature tends to portray middle-aged women as generally unattractive, uninteresting, unintelligent and as dependent "labels" rather than persons in the process of growth. To gain a greater…

The relationships among Catholic school teachers' commitment, job satisfaction, and work environment are examined. A survey of full-time Catholic elementary school teachers in a large Catholic diocese yielded a 68 percent response rate (n=655). Findings classified three groups of teachers on the basis of three sources of commitment: commitment to…

A literature review and discussion the effect of school administrators on staff morale is presented in this paper. Four factors for improving staff morale include: a supportive workplace; meaningful incentives; a good working environment; and personal display of high morale by the administrator. Ten recommendations for improving staff relations…

A second language teaching technique using relaxation, imagination, and music to accelerate the learning process is imagination, and music to accelerate the learning process is discussed. Part 1 describes the classroom setting and the stages and processes of the technique. Part 2 outlines the theory and sources of the method in the literature of…

The results of an evaluation study of a university Child Development Associate (CDA) training program are summarized, focusing on the characteristics of this non-traditional educational program and its effects on the classroom performance and personal development of its adult students. The subjects were 215 female preschool teachers and staff…

The purpose of this paper is to summarize an evaluation of the PLATO career information development system (CIDS) at two sites in Illinois: Truman College, Chicago, and the Champaign Comprehensive Employment and Training Act Consortium. Data were obtained between March 31 and June 28, 1982 from 229 users in regard to six questions/issues that were…

Through an examination of the background and current status of programs at the National Center for Research in Vocational Education, one can identify many research problems and issues. Some of these current National Center programs include a diffusion program (combining five U.S. Office of Education-sponsored projects), research and development…

Diverse opinions are held by workers, union officials, and labor researchers about the importance of the quality of working life to workers. Major issues in this debate focus on the following questions: (1) Is there a workers' movement to improve the quality of working life? (2) Do workers seek meaning and self-fulfillment in their jobs? (3) Can…

This study investigates "burn-out" and turnover among workers in child care settings. A total of 95 persons working in 32 child care centers in San Francisco were interviewed by telephone. One-fifth of the centers in the city were represented and both public and private centers were included. Each category of center was proportinately…

Elementary and secondary school teachers were trained in the use of two observation instruments for teacher evaluation--the Classroom Procedures Assessment Instrument and the Interpersonal Skills Assessment Instrument. Training was conducted in workshops which used a series of ten videocassette sequences showing teachers working with students.…

The effects of student instructional preference on performance in an engineering course offered both by Personalized Instruction (PSI) and lecture/discussion methods were explored in a study of 113 university sophomores and juniors. In lieu of random assignment to instruction mode, this study employed self-selection, the most common situation in…

Satisfaction with one's community is an elusive quality related to a variety of physical and social factors. As changes in the community become imminent, levels of satisfaction may also change. Residents of two communities were periodically questioned as their personal satisfaction, (happy place, suitable size), satisfaction with services…