Montreal high school students studying French as a second language completed a battery of tests including measures of linguistic aptitude, verbal intelligence, and various attitudinal and motivational characteristics. Analysis of the intercorrelations of these tests yielded two orthogonal factors equally related to ratings of achievement in…

A causal model of a cycle of student performance is proposed. Two investigations were conducted in Australia, studying individuals and classrooms. Attitudes toward, and achievement in, mathematics and science were measured. The roles of attentiveness and teachers' use of time were also studied. (GDC)

Regression analyses examined the relationships among: time spent (periods and hours per week) studying science; time allocated for science homework; time used by teacher; and time not spent in learning. The performance cycle model of achievement, aspiration, and attitude was supported at the between classrooms level. (GDC)

Investigates the environment of distance students with reference to the problems caused by "study plus work" and "study plus work plus family." Transcripts of extended interviews were analyzed to present a picture of the social and psychological environment of the students. (Author)

Anticipation of academic, professional, and career-related benefits and opportunities for friendship and belonging lead many young people to become members of career and technical education (CTE) student organizations. Because all CTE student organizations share similar goals for membership and participation, outcomes of a Purdue University study…

Presents the results of a study that assessed the influence of individual and contextual factors on adolescent girls' interest in school physical education. Suggests that classroom environment is more important than individual goals in influencing pupil interest. Results are discussed in the context of theoretical propositions of goal perspectives…

A 40-item Likert scale, Transpersonal Orientation to Learning, was developed to investigate transpersonal (spiritual or mystical) orientation. The scale was validated via administration to 166 graduate students in education to determine their beliefs about the development of spiritual potential in learning environments. Satisfactory reliability…

Recent research on effective teaching and the literature on the motivation of learning provide the second-language teacher with specific strategies to help reduce negative student attitudes toward the language course. These strategies are presented and discussed. (42 references) (Author/MSE)

Asserts that music teachers should use the Dalcroze Method of instruction, which postulates that music students must acquire six skills as a foundation for their music education. Contends that these skills are observable behaviors and can all be taught through physical movement. Suggests teaching methods for effective implementation. (CFR)

Describes a 20-year study that queried more than 1,500 community-college faculty members on what motivated student learning. Presents the resulting six motivators: (1) teaching skill; (2) organizational structure; (3) teacher-student rapport; (4) course difficulty; (5) grading and feedback; and (6) teacher's impact on students. Lists demotivators…

Carr (2002), in her investigation of boys' alienation from languages and language learning, addressed the question of an "appropriate curriculum" for boys and boys' understanding of masculinity. Boys reported in that research that they preferred physical activities so found the written text orientation of language learning to be "hard" and…

The author reviews research on the connections between attitudes and language learning, and between attitudes and motivation. The article suggests that language learners' motivation and attitudes can influence learning outcomes, and that effective teaching can change negative attitudes. It describes a classroom action research project that was…

The purposes of this study were: to examine the terms "intrinsic motivation" and "extrinsic motivation" by defining and analyzing characteristics of each; to investigate their relevance to classroom practice; and to determine if students' motivational orientations can be changed. A modified version of Harter's Self-Report Scale…

This research experiment studied the effect of humor versus non-humor on learning and retention of a computer-based instructional (CBI) lesson on tick identification. The experiment also surveyed the subjects' enjoyment of the lesson material, their personal experiences with ticks, and their concerns about ticks and tick-borne diseases.…

Over 1,000 eighth grade students participated in a study to determine the relationships between learning style and reading/language arts skills as demonstrated by standardized testing. It was hypothesized that (1) individual learning style contributes significantly to reading and communication skills, (2) specific learning style elements acting…