Hierarchical regression analyses were used to identify factors that functioned as either promotive or protective factors against the impact of ecological risk on the psychological adjustment of 112 African American and 94 European American adolescents (13-19 years of age). Indicators of ecological risk, promotive/protective factors, and adjustment…

The exploratory study of nearly 20,000 college students indicated that Chicanos are more likely to select areas for study leading to people-oriented careers. Chicanos are not more likely to choose areas in which they do well nor is a professor's ethnicity significant in a student's GPA. (SB)

Patterns of topic discussion and elaboration related to gender and ethnicity were studied with 66 mothers and their 4-year-old children (Hispanic and Anglo American). Implications of the different patterns of topic selection and discussion for children's subsequent school-related activities and performance are discussed. (SLD)

This study examines teachers' interactions with fourth- and fifth-grade Mexican American (n=40) and Anglo American (n=59) students who were similar in terms of socioeconomic background, level of academic achievement, and English proficiency. The relationship of these interactions to students' achievement is also examined. (PN)

Examined relatedness of field-dependence to tasks of cognitive ability and academic achievement in 60 Anglo-American and 60 Mexican-American fourth graders. Results show a strong relationship with a nonverbal test of reasoning ability and measures of reading and mathematics achievement. Ethnic differences in field dependence are not found. (SLD)

This study was designed to examine the epistemological beliefs about the nature of knowledge, views of intelligence and motivational perceptions. Two samples were drawn from two large urban high schools in the Southwest portion of the United States with large Hispanic/Latino student populations while a third was drawn from a majority Anglo student…

Differences in the age of entry to kindergarten and the use of kindergarten retention as functions of a child's sex and ethnicity were assessed for over 1,800 Anglo and Latino kindergarten students in 3 California school districts. Impact of these policies on early school failure are discussed. (SLD)

A sample of 236 elementary-level Black, Hispanic, and Anglo pupils, referred or nonreferred for learning disabilities, were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and the Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children cognitive and achievement scales. Results showed that referral status, ethnicity, and language proficiency…

Among 1,607 American Indian and Anglo dropouts and currently enrolled middle- and high-school students, language difficulties and problems with teachers were predictive of academic troubles and dropping out. Success of Indian students was related to stronger Anglo cultural identity and better English proficiency (in mainstream schools) but was not…

The differential effects of language proficiency on standardized test performance of elementary school students (grades 4 through 6 are examined for the San Diego (California) Unified School District. Ethnicity is examined as a mediating variable circumscribing the relationship between language proficiency and test performance. Test performance is…