This study illustrates how a factor analysis of a well-designed student-rating instrument can increase its utility. Factor analysis of a student-rating instrument was used to reveal constructs that would explain student attrition in science, mathematics, and engineering majors. The Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment (IDEA)…

This study is part of continuing research into the meaning of future National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science scales. In this study, the test framework, as examined by NAEP's consensus process, and attributes of the items, identified by science experts, cognitive scientists, and measurement specialists, are examined. Preliminary…

This study investigates the effect of cooperative learning on students' self-perceptions. Areas explored include students' perceptions concerning their: (1) achievement, regardless of present achievement level; (2) personal worth; (3) friendship formation with different ethnic groups and sexes; and (4) enjoyment of school. Interviews were…

A study was conducted to: (1) analyze trends in the number of minorities and women enrolled at undergraduate and graduate levels in managerial, technical, and scientific fields; (2) examine the number of undergraduate and graduate minorities and women who major in these fields; and (3) examine the impact of these trends on equity and access. Four…

This document includes a research review and commentary on the role, career, and work of assistant principals; an overview of theories and concepts useful to studying the administrative career in education; and propositions regarding professional training practices and personnel policies in education. Results of a review of the research on the…

Although ethnicity has generally been relegated to secondary status as an explanatory factor in urban political participation studies, this research hypothesizes that ethnicity plays a major role in determining communal political participation. Communal participation is defined as participation in which the individual acts in concert with or on…

The paper analyzes the multifaceted nature of current citizenship education programs and suggests a model which would reconcile the differences between conflicting program approaches. One problem of citizenship education is lack of consensus on its goals and content. Some programs emphasize socialization to established rules of social and…

In order to formulate social policy which is responsive to needs of women and other minority groups, decision makers must be better informed about alternative options, incentives, and unintended as well as intended consequences of various policies. Social scientists can contribute to decision makers' understandings of social factors in numerous…

Research in social psychology will be more useful to society if researchers incorporate evaluation research into their inquiries. Evaluation research is interpreted to include overall assessment of a program or project as well as methodological procedures used to assess implementation and outcome of social and cultural action programs.…

The research focuses on positive and negative aspects of intercultural relationships such as marriage, close friendship, and long-term work relationships. Because intercultural relations produce greater instability than relationships between individuals of the same culture, it is hypothesized that partners involved in intercultural relationships…

Group participation by Israeli youth is examined in light of the Theory of Status Characteristics and Expectation States. This theory maintains that social and/or group status influences expectations of competence and triggers self-fulfilling prophecies of performance. An experiment designed to prevent unwanted dominance of high status…

This paper presents a new approach designed to help students understand the concepts around which introductory social and political science courses are typically built. The social science course, "Problem Solving in Society," includes an exercise requiring the class as a whole to select, and develop proposals to alleviate, a social problem.…

The paper develops a theory of political alienation based upon interactions among three antecedent conditions. Political alienation is interpreted as combining feelings of inefficacy, discontent, cynicism, estrangement, and hopelessness. The factors evaluated for their contribution to political alienation are: (1) critical perceptions of…

The question addressed in this paper is that of the stance that black psychology should adopt in relation to social issues. This question is relevant to critical issues such as the political policy setting nature of social sciences, the economics of funding necessary to conduct the research that might have policy implications, and the conceptual…

This paper describes how education as a function of society is controlled mainly by professional education associations and influenced to a small degree by local cultural groups. An alternative for control of Indian education is explored with respect to the potential of school boards for flow of power and relationship to Indian cultures. Community…