This bulletin discusses the mathematics and science course enrollment trends of secondary students in Australia, which are of national concern because of the low participation rates overall and because of the gender imbalance in enrollment numbers. Statistics are reported for 12th-grade mathematics and science course enrollment, and expectations…

Investigated gender differences in economics education and achievement, using data from a study of Australian secondary school students that collected data on student background and economics achievement (via the Test of Economic Literacy). Results showed few gender differences related to item bias, total performance, and student background…

Reports on gender differences in achievement, attitudes, preferences, learning experiences and study habits of four groups of Israeli 12th grade students, three of which specialized in the sciences and one group which studied no science. Concludes that girls are generally less interested in studying science and have less positive attitudes toward…

To study gifted adolescents and their perception of education, social relationships, career counseling, and self-image, interviews were conducted with 60 grade twelve students identified as gifted in four secondary schools in Ontario (Canada), and with 12 of their teachers/guidance counselors. Information from the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire…

Examined how peer tutors' skill levels affected novice learners' swimming achievement motivation and performance. Data on French high school seniors indicated that skilled tutors yielded the best skills for boys, whereas skilled and intermediate tutors yielded the best skills for girls. Skilled tutors led to higher self-efficacy for improvement…

Australian researchers surveyed secondary school girls to determine reasons for enrollment in physical education (PE). Girls selecting PE enjoyed the break, activity, sports, fitness, and skills. Those not enrolling believed other subjects were more important, PE did not fit their schedules, they exercised enough already, and PE was too…

Uses a multilevel, integrative approach to show the desirability of modeling science learning products and processes simultaneously within an educational structure and specific learning context. Probes inequality and inequity in science teaching and learning at the sixth-form (grade-12) level in 272 Hong Kong schools. School provision, teacher…

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to investigate the factorial validity across gender of the Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQ III) subscales measuring general, school, English, and mathematics self-concepts. When administered to 516 male/475 female 11th/12th graders in Ottawa (Canada), the questionnaire demonstrated…

The extent to which convergent and discriminant validity of 4 self-concept traits and the method effects associated with 3 measurement scales that were equivalent across gender was studied. Data from 832 students (412 boys and 420 girls) in grades 11 and 12 in suburban Canada were analyzed. (SLD)

Investigates the effect of gender, age, and school grade on several career-exploration dimensions measured by the Career Exploration Survey. Results indicate that sex and grade-level were the most significant characteristics related to the adolescents' career-exploration behaviors, reactions, and beliefs. Discusses career-exploration…

Discusses results of 2 examinations taken by 12th-grade students (n=13,522 for calculus; n=18,031 for statistics) in New Zealand. Males outscored females, significantly in statistics, and private school students outscored state school students. Some differences moderated when mathematics coursework was factored in. (Contains 32 references.)…

Grade-12 results of the Second International Mathematics Study for Belgium, New Zealand, Thailand, and Japan suggest that when single-sex schooling is relatively scarce in a country, it influences student achievement by attracting students with unique characteristics. Achievement effects may be positive or negative depending on the function of…

This study focused on gender differences in scores on the American College Testing Program (ACT) assessment in mathematics for a large sample of U.S. high school graduates (over 1,700,000) and a sample of 321 Chinese twelfth graders. A smaller gender difference was found for the Chinese sample than for the U.S. sample. However, a similar pattern…

Reports on a study of the cognitive preferences of twelfth grade students in Israel. Results indicated that, during the last ten years, Israeli students have become more oriented toward application. (TW)

Examined secondary school students' (n=364) attitudes toward time use. Three constructs of time-use attitudes were identified: passive fatalistic, egoistic, and conscientious. Several significant developmental patterns of time-use attitudes were found for males and females in grades 8, 10, and 12. (Author/NB)