Fourth- through sixth-grade classrooms were observed, and a social climate questionnaire and the Test Anxiety Scale for Children were administered. Analysis of variance showed that high-structured classrooms had the most work involvement. Both high child activity and low control by teachers were related to more active deviancy. (Author/RD)

Develops a motivational science perspective on student motivation in learning and teaching contexts that highlights 3 general themes for motivational research. The 3 themes include the importance of a general scientific approach for research on student motivation, the utility of multidisciplinary perspectives, and the importance of use-inspired…

Examines types and frequency of coaching of learning at the middle school level and its relation to students' strategic-learning. Results reveal that instances of teachers' coaching of learning occurred in only 9% of the instruction segments and that students' strategic-learning activity was significantly related to teachers' coaching of learning.…

To determine cross-sectional similarity of the underlying structure of classroom environment variables, the Learning Environment Inventory and Primary Mental Abilities Test were administered to 46 eighth grade classes and 50 eleventh grade classes. Structures of affective and cognitive variables became very similar, however, a slight…

Examines whether stereotypes can threaten in private settings. Results revealed that minority students performed worse than same-gender students in both public and private environments. Finding supports the concept of threatening intellectual environments and shows how far reaching the effects of stereotypes can be. Discusses these findings in…

This study investigated the proposal that social dominance goals are an important, but overlooked, aspect of social goals for young adolescents' academic adjustment. Self-reports of social goals (dominance, intimacy, and popularity goals) early in the school year were used to predict subsequent engagement (self-reports and peer nominations of…

This study examined the joint effects of teachers' expectations about students and vice versa on the performance and attitudes of both participants. Results showed that student performance was a function of the teacher's expectations. (Author/GK)

The effects of task-overlapping linguistic noise on activity and performance of hyperactive and control children were assessed. Results suggest that task difficulty may play a role in the effects of overlapping stimulation on both groups. (Author/GK)

Compares methods of identifying aggressive/bullying and victimized youngsters in a middle school sample. Findings reveal that teachers' and research associates' rating of students' aggression were significantly correlated, and that the ability of different peer and self-report measures to identify youngsters at different levels of aggression and…

Virtual twins are unrelated siblings of the same age who are reared together from early infancy (UST-SA). Study uses a sample of 90 UST-SA pairs to comparatively assess the similarity of IQ subtest profile correlations for UST-SAs and twin pairs. Findings support explanatory models of intelligence that include genetic factors, demonstrating that…

Examines predictors of alcohol and marijuana use at school among a sample of high school students (N=208). Results reveal that personal predispositions are more strongly related to substance use at school when students believe they have the opportunity to use alcohol and drugs without getting caught. (Contains 39 references and 5 tables.)…

The effects of high versus low teacher control strategies on student objectives in a quasi-simulation University Career Game were studied. Results showed that high-control subjects made significantly more goal choices for educational efficiency, while low-control subjects made significantly more choices favoring personal and social growth.…

The development, initial standardization, and substantive data of the University Residence Environment Scales (URES) are presented. (Authors)