Academic self-concepts in adolescence: Relations with achievement and ability grouping in schools

The effects of ability grouping in schools on students' self-concept were examined in a sample of 23 secondary schools with a range of structured ability groupings. Measures of general self-concept, academic self-concept, and achievement were collected from over 1600 students aged 14–15 years and again two years later. Students' academic self-concept, but not their general self-concept, was related to the extent of ability grouping in the school attended. Subject-specific facets of academic self-concept were not related to the number of years of ability grouping students had experienced in English, mathematics and science; however, they were related to students' position in the grouping hierarchy, with students in high-ability groups having significantly higher self-concepts in all three subjects than students in low-ability groups. Students' intentions to learn in future were more strongly affected by self-concept than by achievement.     

Multivariate prediction of academic performance by Hong Kong University students

Verbal intelligence, English-language skills, personality, and attitude scales were used as predictors of academic performance in 230 male and female arts students at the University of Hong Kong. A series of bivariate, multiple, and canonical correlation analyses were performed. The results showed that verbal intelligence and attitudes, excepting study orientation, were not predictive of performance. English-language skills had the most predictive value, accounting for about 10% of the variance of performance measures. Personality variables failed to predict performance when composite criterion measures (GPAs) were used; however, they proved to be of predictive value when results of individual academic subjects were used as criterion measures. The study points to the importance of using noncomposite criterion measures in prediction and of considering the cultural context of achievement.     

化工院校情报工作者的一次聚会

<正> 全国化工院校情报中心站第四届年会于1988年10月17日-21日在武汉化工学院召开。中心站21个成员单位的代表出席了会议。化工部情报所的有关同志参加了会议。湖北省及武汉市图书馆情报界的知名人士、武汉化工学院领导等均到会致词祝贺。年会的主要议程有:一、就高校情报工作的服务方向、情报有偿服务、情报教学等方面的改革进行了广泛的交流和探讨。华东化工学院和青岛化工学院的代表介绍了图书馆实行定编定岗、优化组合、工资包干和情报实行定额承包、面向企业的改革尝试,引起了代表们的极大兴趣和热烈讨论。