Issue: 1971 Volume 13

(15) Common Dimensions of the School, Social, and Economic Environment in Florida: an Empirical Study

Robert S. Stephenson
Florida State University

Jacob G. Beard
Florida State University

Abstract: Forty-six variables descriptive of the 67 Florida School systems and their coterminous counties were subjected to a principal axis factor analysis. Seven interpretable factors were extracted.

Two of the seven factors were school factors and tentatively labeled “School Holding Power” and “Expenditure Per Pupil.” Two other factors were determined by cultural attributes of the community and labeled “Social and Economic Stratification” and “Minority Group.” Three additional community factors were labeled: “Growth Rate,” “Community Size,” and “Local School Support.”

The two output variables, “County Achievement Mean” and “Percent Attend- ing College,” loaded appreciably on only three of the factors: “Social and Economic Stratification,” “School Holding Power,” and “Minority Group.”

Approximately one third of the systematic variance in achievement means was unrelated to the variables used in this study.

Citation: Stephonson, R. S., & Beard, J. G. (1971). Common dimensions of the school social, and economic environment in Florida: and empirical study. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 13(1), 49-57.

Download:  Stephenson.131.pdf (2080 downloads )

(14) Characteristics and Attitudes of College Students in Relation to Marijuana

Stephen S. Sledjesky
Santa Fe Junior College

Wilson H. Guertin
University of Florida

Abstract: The dual purpose of this study was (1) to examine attitudes of college students in relation to marijuana to discover interrelations of opinions regarding its use, and (2) to determine differences between smokers of marijuana and non- smokers on demographic data, Factor analysis-and item tallies were used, respectively, in analyzing the degree of agreement with opinion items on a Questionnaire designed by the senior author. The demographic data suggested few differences between smokers of marijuana and nan-smokers of marijuana an the eight categories investigated. The differences that were found were in the categories of cigarette smoking and planned major field of study. Regarding the factor analysis of attitudes, nine factors were farmed which expressed varied degrees of knowledge and acceptance of marijuana plus caution at its use and society’s erroneous interpretation of its effects.

Citation: Sledjesky, S. S., & Guertin, W. H. (1971). Characteristics and attitudes of college students in relation to marijuana. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 13(1), 14-22.

Download:  Sledjesky.131.pdf (1839 downloads )

(13) Age Differences and Dishonesty in High School

Fred Schab
University of Georgia

Abstract: 1629 northeast Georgia adolescents, ages,13 thru 17+, attending 22 high schools, responded, anonymously, to Questions asking about the cheating being practiced in their schools, their own projected and admitted deceitful behavior in certain educational situations, and their beliefs about effects of school deceit on contemporary society.

Chi-square applied to the responses revealed many significant differences between the responses of the five age groups studied.

Age differences were found in the following areas: (1) estimates of the amount of on-going cheating, (2) opinions about which courses are cheated in most, (3) how and by whom cheaters should be punished, (4) willingness to “squeal” on cheaters, (5) cheating or giving help on tests and other tasks, (6) deceiving teachers and administrators in various ways (sometimes with the connivance of parents), and (7) the carryover of deceit from school to job, college, home, and its prevalence in contemporary society.

Citation: Schab, F. (1971). Age differences and dishonesty in high school. Florida Journal of Educational Research, 13(1), 3-13.

Download:  Schab.131.pdf (1288 downloads )