The Israeli “bagrut” examination in biology revisited

The Israeli paper-and-pencil matriculation examination in biology has been one of the most powerful means for implementing an inquiry oriented high school biology program based on the U.S. BSCS. The first version of this examination was described and analyzed in JRST in 1972. This article describes the changes and effects of this examination during the years and compares the examination of the year 1982 with that of 1969. Implications for upgrading science education are discussed.     

The “pinpointing effect” vs. the “diffusion effect” of peer influence

Classroom teachers are learning to employ the peer group to “shape up” dissidents. However, singling out a child may produce undesirable side effects such as emotional behavior, resentment, etc. Can the same result be obtained by rewarding the class for ignoring the target behavior of everyone in the room? Twelve subjects were selected from six middle school classes, two from each class. Each entire class was rewarded for increased ignoring of the target behavior (whispering): in the three P (pinpointed) classes, for ignoring the whispering of Designated (target) subjects; in the three D (diffusion) classes, for ignoring whispering by all class members. The results indicate that a peer group can decrease reinforcement of a disruptive behavior and thereby decelerate it in a singled-out child (Pinpointing Effect) or a behavior emitted by any child in class (Diffusion Effect) with equal effectiveness. However, patterns in the data suggest that peers ignored P-Designated subjects most, D subjects next most, and P-Undesignated subjects the least and that this pattern of ignoring was mirrored in the pattern of deceleration of the target behaviors in the three groups. These patterns suggest that the Pinpointing Effect may be stronger than the Diffusion Effect, but further study is needed.     

Bridging the “Bayley-Binet GAP”

This study demonstrated that encountering children ages 18-23 months whose performance is not scorable by standard methods for either the Stanford Binet Intelligence Test or the Bayley Scales of Infant Development mental scale is a relatively frequent occurrence. However, the results of this study bring into question Sternlicht's (1965) suggestion that an 18-month basal level on the Stanford-Binet may be assumed, given success by a child on only one item at the two-year level. The study indicates that a child must succeed on at least two, or more conservatively, four items at the two-year level on the Stanford-Binet in order to assume an 18-month basal level.