This study was conducted to examine three explanations for gender differences in computer use and attitudes: (1) sex-typed females avoid computers if they perceive computers to be a male domain; (2) sex differences in video game use mediate sex differences in computer use; and (3) sex differences in attributional style mediate sex differences in…

Richards, Gaver, and Golicz (1984) found that, in contrast to peers whose grades were accurately predicted from performance on aptitude tests, both extremely underachieving and extremely overachieving fourth-graders had negative academic attitudes. The present study aimed to replicate and extend these findings. Subjects in the replication study…

Concern for an apparent drop in liking for school by fourth grade students led to the study reported here. It was felt that less adequately prepared students would like school less than their counterparts. Moreover, three self-concept scales were thought to be connected to the observed decline. Four instruments were administered to fourth graders…

In the study, 110 fifth and sixth grade children of both gifted and average ability levels confirmed that they are capable of reflecting on future occurrences, of assessing the probability of positive or negative outcomes, and of identifying implications of those future occurrences. (Author/SBH)

Investigated was the effect of MACOS (Man: A Course of Study) on children's behavior. Conclusions included: (1) the study of a culture did not lead to more open attitudes toward culturally determined behavior; (2) the students' sex did not influence their attitudes about different cultural behaviors. (NQ)

Examines the system of extrinsic rewards given to young people in school and to adults in the work place, concluding that less pressure for grades and more hard work for learning and personal satisfaction would be better for students. (NKA)

Learning-disabled (N=48) and nonlearning-disabled (N=48) fourth- and fifth-grade boys were given a task and told they had either succeeded or failed. Results indicated that learning-disabled subjects showed greater persistence, attributed outcomes to external factors, and did not exhibit lower performance expectations nor show greater expectancy…

Data from 261 fifth and seventh grade students reporting no prior experience with drugs or alcohol showed self-esteem, depression, and anxiety to be significantly correlated with variables associated with potential drug use. Suggests that low self-esteem and high levels of depression and anxiety can be predispositions to drug use in rural…

This study compared the system of presenting all spelling words at the beginning of the week and testing at the end of the week with a system of presenting a portion of the words each day and daily testing. Subjects were 13 fourth grade students. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

Gifted fourth- through sixth-graders (N=478) attending a nonresidential 3-week summer program ranked 10 of 31 courses they liked best. Males most often liked cartooning, chemistry, rocketry, and small-engine repair courses, while females preferred newspaper, sign language, and mime courses. Both sexes liked radio broadcasting, architecture, and…

Among the research results on the perceptions of 207 intermediate grade students was the indication that, while problem-solving performance related only to intelligence and math achievement scores, ideational fluency related significantly to student perceptions of emphasis on higher level thinking skills in the classroom and positive classroom…

Investigated the accuracy of teacher predictions (N=20) of reward preferences of 49 fifth and sixth graders. Findings suggested that students need to be involved in selecting their own rewards when planning behavioral interventions and that for some students, particularly boys, rewards available outside the classroom may be most effective. (JAC)

Upper elementary and high school students completed an instrument that measured student attitudes toward social studies and indicated the presence of factors found to contribute to positive student attitudes toward social studies in previous research. It was concluded that teaching style did not have a meaningful impact on student attitudes.…

Recent literature on motivation has documented that perceptions of self-competence and motivational orientations for learning are interrelated. This study focuses specifically on childrens perceptions of their scholastic abilities, how these perceptions develop and how they relate to intrinsic motivation for learning. The rationale for this study…

In the primary school classrooms, students spend almost three terms (20-25 hours) doing project work in groups of 4-5. In order for any learning task to be conducted effectively, the students need to know how to work collaboratively in their groups, and teachers need to find out how their students perceive one another while working in their…