Subjects were ninth graders in a highly competitive midwestern suburban school. All subjects had attended school in the district for their entire education. The "average" group of 49 students was compared with the "high ability" group of 124 students. Results were analyzed to determine whether differences were statistically…

The effect of testing on student retention was investigated to determine if it was the actual test taking, the prior preparation for the test, or the combination of studying for and taking the test which actually affected retention. Subjects were undergraduate students (N=90) who were divided into two different study conditions, i.e., test and…

This was a pioneer empirical study of the effectiveness of residential and nonresidential adult education programs. Two similar courses in insurance fundamentals were given by the same instructor, for the same length of time, and with the same objectives. One eight day residential course for 60 participants was held at the Michigan State Kellogg…

Suggestions are made for evaluating reading and study skills in secondary school content subjects. Evaluation procedures include (1) standardized reading tests, (2) teacher-made informal reading tests, (3) inventories of reading and study skills, (4) interest inventories, and (5) teacher observations. Suggestions are made and samples are shown for…

The relative effectiveness of spontaneously-formed and organized group study was compared along with the effect of studying independently. Subjects were 34 undergraduate psychology students who participated during the regular class period. Analyses were done on grade-point averages (an index of past academic performance) and grades for the course…

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) project developed 17 courses in various fields at the University of Texas from January 1, 1973 through December 31, 1975. Data collected on comparisons between PSI students and control students indicated that: (1) PSI students learned as much or more than others; (2) Higher…

Four studies conducted at Harcum College (Pennsylvania) in fall 1969 were presented. From a survey to determine students' reasons for attending Harcum, it was concluded that substantial numbers of students view their college education as a means of acquiring future direct, material rewards. A study on student attrition demonstrated the variety and…

An investigation was conducted to determine whether differing schedules of reading practice had a significant effect on the reading achievement of male college students enrolled in a developmental reading course. Subjects were 80 male students at Central State College, Edmond, Oklahoma. Pretest and post-test results were compared. The Nelson-Denny…

The project, Pueblo Indian Education Talent Search Project, identifies problems related to Indian success in colleges. These problems, listed in order, are (1) poor communications (speaking, hearing, and writing English); (2) improper study habits in the first years; (3) lack of orientation to college life; and (4) the minority complex of the…

Suggestions are made for evaluating reading and study skills in secondary school content subjects. Evaluation procedures include (1) standardized reading tests, (2) teacher-made informal reading tests, (3) inventories of reading and study skills, (4) interest inventories, and (5) teacher observations. Suggestions are made and samples are shown for…

Traditional variables used to predict success in higher education have been classified as intellective factors. These so-called intellective factors include: high school grades, aptitude scores and I.Q. scores. Other significant variables used to predict grades are known as non-intellective factors. These non-intellective factors include concepts…

In order to identify the reading behavior and instructional needs of functionally illiterate adults reading below fourth grade level, 50 adults were identified and diagnosed on the Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty test and the Slosson Intelligence Test for Children and Adults. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to Oklahoma City…

Recognizes that while most students want to succeed academically, they do not, simply because they are unaware of basic study techniques. Suggests that teachers spend some classroom time discussing basic techniques in the form of their expectations of academic behavior. (TP)

Since people do vocationally who they are without recognizing themselves if not educated to do so, the author helps youths educationally become what they want to do. This study reports a strong association between vocational aspirations and the numbers of hours adolescents study per week. (Author)

Two studies investigated an information processing model in explaining the poor academic performance of highly test-anxious students. The first measured the organization of course material by students in a nonevaluative situation; and the second differentiated types of highly test anxious students by their information processing skills.…