This report focuses on the processes of learning to read and write in the initial phases. Two studies are presented. The first is a review of four theoretical approaches, including Jerome Bruner's representation theory, and theories of concept learning, metacognition, and metalinguistic awareness. The purpose of the literature study was to examine…

Drawn from a conference intended as a step toward reuniting the disciplines of behavioral sciences and law, the items in this compilation were prepared by practitioners and educators in the areas of law, communication, social psychology, and sociology. The items are arranged in five sections according to these topics: interviewing and counseling,…

In circumstances where judges are required to make ratings of performance, it is usually required to have two or more raters who are trained to agree on independent ratings of the same performance. It is suggested that such a requirement may produce the paradox of attenuation associated with item analysis, in which too high a correlation between…

Children appear to interpret the "equals" sign as an operator ("adds up to") not a relational ("the same as") symbol--e.g., viewing equations like 13 = 7 + 6 or 8 = 8 as senseless. This study, a natural experiment, examined the effects of long-term instruction emphasizing a relational definition of "equals."…

This exploratory study was aimed at uncovering children's beliefs and ideas about the human circulatory system. Thirty-two subjects, aged 7 to 14 years, were interviewed using a modification of Piaget's clinical method. The data were analyzed by developing a conceptual inventory of beliefs for each of five research questions. It was found that the…

Using an ethnographic approach, three Parent Education Programs were studied to describe the social setting in which they took place and to document their impact upon parents. The programs were conceptualized as social service organizations designed to change the parental roles of participants. Each program was observed, interviews were conducted…

The effectiveness of a training package for teaching behavioral contractors to conduct initial assessment interviews was evaluated. Verbal responses including professional conduct statements, behavioral assessment questions, and positive process statements were targeted for instruction. Training consisted of written prompts and quizzes, rehearsal,…

The application of hermeneutic theory to the study of the oral history interview is proposed in this paper. The first section of the paper indicates why the oral interview is central to the approach of the oral historian; it then defines oral history as a communicative process and suggests an approach to investigating the oral interview that uses…

This interview discusses control theory (based on humans' psychological needs for love, power, freedom, and fun) and its potential for transforming students' classroom learning experience. By adopting the teamwork approach used in extracurricular activities, teachers can help students gain satisfaction and a sense of their own importance. (MLH)

Determinants of children's self-perceptions of ability were assessed in 158 second and sixth graders by examining intercorrelations among self-ratings of ability, effort, and conduct and by exploring criteria used for these judgments. Results suggest that children's judgments of ability, effort, and conduct are interrelated but distinguishable.…

This paper discusses the relationship between mother tongue, foreign language, and thinking. It is based on a pilot study carried out with 30 Finnish university students majoring in English philology. All students filled in a questionnaire and four were selected for an interview. In the questionnaires and interviews, the students were asked to…

This report examines the current position in Scottish further education colleges regarding professional development for those staff whose roles include teaching and the management of teaching and learning. The report: (1) identifies general categories of professional development in which it is appropriate for these staff to participate; (2)…

This study examined the development of causal expressions in children's discourse from two to three years of age. Linguistic, contextual, and pragmatic influences on language development were the major factors considered. (CM)

Describes a study of motivational factors influencing 19 first-year students who made the dean's list their first quarter in college, despite a poor academic performance in high school. Applies Weiner's attributional theory of motivation. Most students attributed their prior academic performance to a lack of motivation/effort. (DMM)

Presents strategies to prevent substance abuse among young African-American males, using family and cultural storytelling techniques. A theoretical framework is included, and the techniques are illustrated in an ethnographic study of 20 African-American males (ages 13 to 18 years). The techniques seem generalizable beyond prevention to treatment.…