College grades and adult achievement: A research synthesis

The present study used meta-analytic methodology to synthesize research on the relationship between college grades and adult achievement. The data for the meta-analysis came from 108 studies correlating grade average in college to various criteria of adult achievement or success. The average correlation between grade average and a composite success criterion was .18, a small effect. Correlations between grade average and eight other criteria of adult achievement were also small, ranging from .09 to .20. Correlational effects were larger in military settings and for studies conducted prior to 1950. The results of this meta-analysis may be somewhat discouraging to those who place a great deal of importance on the predictive value of grades.     

The Interaction Between Methods of Instruction and Individual Learning Style

Individual learning differences under competitive and co‐operative methods of instruction were investigated. It was hypothesised that: (a) students would learn more when the method was matched to the student's preference and that (b) the co‐operative (and tutorial) methods would promote more favourable attitudes toward peer students. One hundred and thirty‐two female students participated in the experiment. In the first part of the experiment they were asked to state their preferences and in the second part, half of the students received their preferred method of instruction. Both hypotheses were confirmed. In addition, it was found that students who preferred competition had better initial knowledge of the material, learned more during the learning experience and held somewhat less favourable attitudes toward their peers. The analysis of the results suggests that the interaction between goal, individual, subject‐matter and learning methods needs to be taken into account when determining an optimal method of instruction.     

The circumplex model of the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction among Hong Kong students: a multidimensional scaling solution

The Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) is a teacher–student relationship measure whose underlying two-dimensional structure is represented in a circumplex model with eight sectors. Using Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), this study examined the circumplex structure of the Chinese version of the QTI among a convenience sample of 731 primary-school students in Hong Kong. The study revealed that the SSA solution fits the circumplex structure of the Model for Interpersonal Teacher Behavior and uncovered a two-dimensional solution yielding five sectors in a clockwise direction: Strict, Leadership-Helpful/Friendly-Understanding, Student Responsibility/Freedom, Uncertain, and Admonishing-Dissatisfied. While the Leadership-Helpful/Friendly-Understanding sector was the largest, the Student Responsibility/Freedom sector was the smallest, with few items constituting it. For the two dimensions, the vertical dimension was named Structure Clarity, with adherence to external structure (Strict sector) at one extreme and lack of structure (Uncertain sector and Student Responsibility/Freedom sector) at the other extreme. The horizontal axis was labelled Attitude Valence, with benevolent valence (Leadership sector, Helpful/Friendly sector and Understanding sector) at one end and malevolent valence (Admonishing sector and Dissatisfied sector) at the other end of the axis. The positioning of the five sectors in the present study is in line with the factor structure that was often found in previous research on the circumplex model. By presenting a somewhat different interpretation of the two dimensions and some additional items, we hope that future research will verify our suggestions across different sociocultural settings.     

Mainstreaming and postsecondary educational and employment status of a rubella cohort

The postsecondary education and work status of 46 rubella deaf young adults was described and evaluated as an outcome of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, preschool attendance, early parent involvement, and degree of prior mainstreaming. With regard to postsecondary education attendance, 24 had two or more years, 11 had one year or less, and 11 had none. At time of interview, 19 were still attending school, 22 were working and five were neither working nor attending an educational program. Ethnic minority young adults were underrepresented in the group with two or more years of postsecondary education, and overrepresented in the group neither working nor in school at time of interview. Prior mainstreaming was a determinant of postsecondary education attendance over and above the effects of demographic and background characteristics. Implications of these findings are discussed.