Student personality characteristics and optimal college learning conditions: An extensive search for trait-by-treatment interaction effects

The goal of this research project was to discover those personality characteristics of college students which predispose them towards learning more effectively from one, rather than some other, particular instructional format. Over 800 students in each of two college courses were taught by one of four different methods, and three broad classes of criterion information were assessed: (a) knowledge of course content, (b) amount of extra-curricular reading, and (c) degree of student satisfaction. Each student completed an extensive battery of personality measures, which yielded over 350 test scores. The ratio of significant interaction effects to the number expected by chance was only 4 to 3. Consequently, new interaction scales were developed empirically in each course, and these were then cross-validated in the other course. In general, these new scales did not produce statistically significant interaction effects upon cross-validation, and scales constructed from items which produced significant interactions in both courses showed low internal consistency and low convergent validity. Factors which could have attenuated the strength of trait-by-treatment interaction effects are discussed.The report is a summary of the findings presented in Goldberg (1969), a monograph which is available to readers wishing additional details of the investigation. Help with the design and implementation of the project was generously provided by William A. Bricker, Leslie A. Davison, and Vello Sermat. The author also wishes to acknowledge, with great thanks, the research contributions of Richard R. Jones, Gale H. Roid, Steven G. Ashton, Edwin S. Shiman, and Molly Stafford. Research funds for this project were first provided by the Oregon State System of Higher Education and by the University of Oregon through its Institute of College Teaching. Major support for the data analyses was provided by the Office of Education (Grant No. OEG-4-7-061693-0420), and later by Grant No. MH12972 and Grant No. MH10822 from the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Public Health Service. Preliminary data analyses were carried out using the facilities of the Computing Center at the University of Oregon; the analyses were completed at the Computing Center of Oregon Research Institute, and the Health Sciences Computing Facility, UCLA, sponsored by N.I.H. Grant FR-3.     

Black and other minority admissions to large universities: A four-year national survey of policies and outcomes

A survey of 108 large universities indicated that median new black freshmen enrollment has increased nationally to 5% in Fall 1972, from 4% in 1971 and 1970 and 3% in 1969. Open admission for all students was employed by 16% of the schools in 1972 compared to 12% in 1971. Schools were generally employing fewer selection variables in 1972 than previously. Schools with special programs for blacks were down to 54% in 1972 from 60% in 1971, although more special programs for American Indian and Spanish speaking students existed (14% in 1972, 8% in 1971), while private universities cut back considerably in all special programs. Results are discussed in terms of literature on minority admissions and current social trends.This study was sponsored and partially funded by Commission IX (Assessment for Student Development) of the American College Personnel Association. Portions of this study were presented at the American College Personnel Association Convention in Cleveland, April 6, 1973.     

Group Projects for First-year University Students: an evaluation

During the academic year 1992-93, Level 1 students in the biosciences were required to carry out group projects over a two-week period. A class of 120 students, divided into groups of four, was given one of three projects, the assessment of which contributed to their final end-of-semester marks. Students' views of the projects were assessed using a comprehensive questionnaire. The issues addressed include (1) student perceptions of project work; (2) student perceptions of working as part of a small team/group; (3) student perceptions of skills attained during the course of the group project work. The results of this study indicate positive outcomes from such practical work.     

Assessing students’ ability in performing scientific inquiry: instruments for measuring science skills in primary education

Background With the increased attention on the implementation of inquiry activities in primary science classrooms, a growing interest has emerged in assessing students’ science skills. Research has thus far been concerned with the limitations and advantages of different test formats to assess students’ science skills.

Purpose This study explores the construction of different instruments for measuring science skills by categorizing items systematically on three subskill levels (science-specific, thinking, metacognition) as well as on different steps of the empirical cycle.

Sample The study included 128 fifth and sixth grade students from seven primary schools in the Netherlands.

Design and method Seven measures were used: a paper-and-pencil test (PPT), three performance assessments, two metacognitive self-report tests, and a test used as an indication of general cognitive ability.

Results Reliabilities of all tests indicate sufficient internal consistency. Positive correlations between the PPT and the three performance assessments show that the different tests measure a common core of similar skills thus providing evidence for convergent validity. Results also show that students’ ability to perform scientific inquiry is significantly related to general cognitive ability. No relationship was found between the measure of general metacognitive ability and either the PPT or the three performance assessments. By contrast, the metacognitive self-report test constructed to obtain information about the application of metacognitive abilities in performing scientific inquiry, shows significant – although small – correlations with two of the performance assessments. Further explorations reveal sufficient scale reliabilities on subskill and step level.

Conclusions The present study shows that science skills can be measured reliably by categorizing items on subskill and step level. Additional diagnostic information can be obtained by examining mean scores on both subskill and step level. Such measures are not only suitable for assessing students’ mastery of science skills but can also provide teachers with diagnostic information to adapt their instructions and foster the learning process of their students.     

What makes a vibble a vibble? A developmental study of category generalization

Young children appear to know when a novel label for a novel object is a common noun. The present study was concerned with the properties of a named object that children assume to be true of other members of the category that is specified by such a noun. Preschoolers, second graders, and college students were shown drawings of objects and given nonsense labels for those objects. They then viewed other objects that varied from the labeled ones along 4 particular attributes and were asked to decide if those other objects should also receive the same label. Preschoolers focused mostly on single attributes in making category decisions, and their choices of attributes were evenly distributed among the 4 types. Older individuals primarily exhibited multiple attribute rules. The results are discussed in terms of developmental differences in the modes of processing that are used and in the types of knowledge that are brought to bear on the word learning situation.