A rating scale was developed that could be used to test Raynor's construct of perceived instrumentality--that the perceived importance of a particular achievement (such as a good grade) to the student's future (career) influences the student's efforts to achieve the goal. The scale was developed to study the perceived importance of learning French…

The paper presents a comprehensive summary of recent research on attitudes in foreign language instruction, discusses it in the light of four functions generally thought of as being characteristic of attitudes, and comments on the usefulness of the attitude concept in foreign language education. Research on attitudes is presented on several…

A teacher must confront the issue of whether or not he should disclose his beliefs, and if so, to what extent. Disclosure can easily become advocacy. A review of the literature reveals that self-disclosure quickens learning, but the literature is divided on whether a religion teacher in tax-supported schools should advocate personal teacher…

The success of remedial reading programs is often attributed to the teaching method used. This study was carried out to investigate the effect that motivation has on reading improvement following remediation. Through a group Word Recognition Test (Carver, 1970) the 32 most severely retarded readers in a large elementary school were selected and…

The present study was generated by the desire to find out more about the attitudes toward school held by inner-city children, using an attitude survey. It was hoped that revisions of methodology for the survey would avoid the "white psychologist's fallacy." It was found that some students felt that learning was a pleasurable experience, that some…

This paper examines a program instructing pre-service and practicing teachers in educational psychology. It is concluded that the program, which utilizes a mastery approach, produces significantly better results than does the traditional method. (DLG)

Addressed is the identification of factors that effect learning as perceived by college students. The assumption is that a knowledge of these perceptions will help teachers and university administrators organize and provide more effective learning situations. Data are presented on: (1) students' perception of statements concerning the instructor;…

Description of a validated computer assisted instruction (CAI) program (The Addition Tutorial) illustrates how four critical components for instruction--learning principles application to instructional design; sufficient database; adequate motivational system; and delivery system which provides teacher learning environment control--might be…

A study investigating the factors most important in creating and maintaining English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs for Hispanic women in prison is reported. The study was undertaken by an ESL teacher who was also an inmate in a maximum security women's correctional institution. Introductory sections describe the prison, inmate population,…

Argues that learner attitudes and motivation are equally important for the improvement of students' proficiency in a second language. Used pre- and post-test results in the Use of English course at a university in Nigeria. (Author/VWL)

For learning to take place the following dimensions, constituting a set of conditions, must be present: (1) a willing learner; (2) a willing teacher; (3) content; and (4) a suitable setting. There is a dialectical relationship among these variables. Applies this argument to find reasons why adult learners have difficulties. (JS)

The study assessed eight junior high teachers' thoughts about at-risk students during instruction and assessed students' perceptions and comprehension of instruction. Results suggest that the teachers more frequently monitored and attempted to motivate the 10 at-risk students. Subjects were aware of their class difficulties but less aware of…

Analysis of statements by 869 students and 21 faculty at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) concerning learning, using the SOLO (structure of observed learning outcomes) Taxonomy, identified key concepts in learning in eight categories: learning definitions; factors influencing learning; learning strategies; learning styles; aspects…

The ARCS (attention/relevance/confidence/satisfaction) model of motivational design provides a systematic seven-step approach to incorporating motivational tactics into instruction. Application of the ARCS model to computer-based instruction and distance education is examined, identifying specific design factors that address needs in each of the…

Examines the learning motivation and strategies of first-year university students of Japanese in relation to the learning of kanji via computer-assisted language learning (CALL). Findings indicate that instrumental motivation was a dominant factor; metacognitive strategies and a positive attitude toward the CALL program are also influential…