Two teaching experiments were conducted relating to the relative effectiveness of anthropological films versus reading of literature as means of conveying anthropological information to college students and of influencing their attitudes toward other societies. In one, a student group viewed films about the Netsilik Indians, one read literature,…

Tested the assumption that there is a relationship between attitudes toward feminists and exposure to university courses on feminism. Results of t-test analysis indicate that attitudes of students exposed to feminist courses changed in a more positive direction, though this positive attitude was not solely dependent on the courses. (Author/ABB)

Describes an experiment in career training that helped to develop plant maintenance mechanics. (RK)

Advantages and disadvantages of nonexperimental paradigms in mathematics education are discussed. Suggestions are made for action toward establishing such designs as quality research. (MP)

Describes several ways to demonstrate the relationship between various aspects of auditory stimulation and sensation. Discusses the equipment required to hear and to visualize simultaneously a variety of auditory signals. States that these demonstrations allow students to learn more about sensory processing in general and auditory function in…

A simple deterministic macroeconomic computer model was tested in a junior-senior level economic statistics course to demonstrate how and why some common errors arise when statistical estimation techniques are applied to economic relationships in empirical problematic situations. The computer model was treated as the true universe or real-world…

A series of five video-cassettes showing children from ages three to eight years was developed for use in an undergraduate developmental psychology course. Each cassette was viewed on an optional basis, with extra credit toward student's final grade awarded for viewing. Study guides accompanied each cassette. An evaluation of the effectiveness of…

After an extensive study of the effective use of resources in colleges and universities the author offers some suggestions that envision radical rearrangements of higher education. Among his ideas are the following: (1) entrance requirements should be eliminated; (2) colleges and universities should be open to everyone the first year, and all…

Designed to assess the effects of self-grading on undergraduate learning and evaluation in a one semester constitutional law course, this study indicated that self-grading had no significant impact on learning but that it did encourage self-graders to evaluate themselves significantly higher than instructor graded students. (Author/DB)

Describes a classroom game called the prisoner's dilemma that illustrates the conflict between social incentives to cooperate and private incentives to defect. Explains that it is a simple card game involving a large number of students. States that the students should be introduced to the real-world applications of the game. (CMK)

Determined if college students learn better when using lecture/CAI than by using the conventional lecture method to present visually oriented material. Results indicated no significant difference between the test groups in amount of learning; also, it took longer to present examples to the control group than for the treatment group to absorb…

Described is a simple demonstration that relates the techniques of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in medicine and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Included are materials, procedures, and probable results. (KR)

Described is a demonstration that provides an introduction to nonequilibrium reaction-diffusion systems and the coupling of hydrodynamics to chemical reactions. Experiments that demonstrate autocatalytic behavior that are effected by gravity and convection are included. (KR)

Describes a classroom experiment in which students see how competitive markets underproduce in the presence of a positive externality. States that this experiment is used in a principles of economics course to introduce the idea of market failure. Explains that participants take the role of buyers of education, sellers of education, or interested…

Examines relative effectiveness of four types of relaxation training including Jacobson-Wolpe and electromyograph (EMG) feedback. Dependent measures are EMG recordings and self-report measures of relaxation. All groups reported increased relaxation, but EMG groups were superior in EMG measures of speed of learning and depth of relaxation.…