The benefits of understanding and pursuing one's purposes in life are well documented. However, few studies have addressed potential interventions for enhancing purpose. This article presents the results of an empirical investigation testing whether reflecting on and discussing one's core values, life goals, and purposes in life has benefits for…

Cultural analysts have indicated that American culture is going through a significant transition in values. The views of three of these analysts are reviewed and implications are drawn for counselors. (Author)

Criticizes the "great tradition" article (EA 519 521, this issue), pointing out that the cause-and-effect relationship between values clarification and the increase in juvenile problems is tenuous.(MD)

Demonstrates how Likert scales, semantic differentials, and projective pictures, stories, and sentences can be used to assess secondary school students' attitudes toward social issues. The Likert scale lists positive and negative statements about an issue; the semantic differential indicates degrees of feelings, for example, good, neutral, bad.…

Presents four exercises to help secondary school social studies students understand the complex issues of the draft. Students participate in a mock draft lottery, analyze Phil Och's Draft Dodger Rag, examine how individual experiences affect attitudes, and compare writings by Bill Mauldin and Ron Kovic. (KC)

Discusses how teachers' values influence their feelings about students, themselves, and other teachers and cause the development of stress. Suggests ways to overcome stress. (CT)

Outlines content for a mini-unit on job-getting skills. In addition to resume writing, interview preparation, and other aspects of the job search, a central portion of the unit involves values clarification and techniques of self-appraisal. (SK)

Describes eight ways of using "The Book of Lists" to stimulate the thinking and imaginations of high school social studies students. The author also presents examples of ways lists can be used to teach concepts and to clarify values. (AM)

Suggests that role playing can offset problems in teaching values clarification and moral reasoning at the elementary school level. Because role playing relies heavily on activity, it circumvents the problem of having a dilemma dealt with by discussion only. Role playing also allows students to take the perspective of others. (Author/KC)

Presents four short exercises for teaching about loneliness, one each for use in the upper elementary grades, high school classes, teacher education classes, and general adult education. (SJL)

Suggests seven value clarification exercises based on situations in basal reading series in which characters could have acted, thought, or felt differently. (MKM)

This paper, intended to assist users in developing a rationale for vocational education, lists a series of values, followed by two or more citations from the literature that support the particular item. The thesis of the paper is that vocational education can and does play a number of significant roles in the secondary school setting. The values…

This digest contains an abridgment of a section of a chapter on "Environmental Education Research Related to Issue Awareness" from the 1984 National Commission for Environmental Education Research (NCEER) Report. The paper was prepared by Randall Wiesenmeyer, Maureen Murrin, and Audrey Tomera. Only the section of the paper dealing with…

Suggests that instructors teach the U.S. Catholic bishops' pastoral on economics by confronting today's moral confusion directly to promote values clarification. Reviews the historical causes of today's value conflicts, discusses the bishops' suggestions for resolving them, and offers assignments to help students clarify their own values. (DMM)

Discusses the use of the opinion poll technique which requires students to take a stand on an issue and to defend or give reasons for taking the stand they chose. Students become aware of their values and how they affect decisions. Issues for elementary students are suggested. (RM)