Findings argue for an increased emphasis on temperament research in the first postpartum months, for the development of more age-appropriate assessments, for the simultaneous use of multiple measures in such research, and for the continued inclusion of mothers as credible observers of infant behavior. (Author/RH)

Obesity in children is a problem both insidious and acute. Childhood obesity has been indicated as a forerunner of adult obesity; it is also an immediate problem for the child. Given the lack of evidence for long term maintenance of any weight loss, this paper investigates the etiology of the disorder as a prelude to prevention. Upon review of the…

The overidentification of structural equation models with latent variables is discussed. The use of two- and three-indicator models is not recommended since such models do not allow a testing of the crucial assumption of unidimensionality among indicators in most cases. Models with four or more indicators may be more sensitive to departures from…

Principals exhibiting different kinds of administrative behavior tend to be influenced by different kinds of factors, according to the results of two sets of related studies reported in this document. The first set, consisting of three studies of principals and central administrators, explored the factors shaping principals' behaviors when the…

Critically analyzes recent research studies that examine background variables, cognitive style, and psychological type as influences on performance in college-level computer science courses. Implications for matching curriculum and instructional strategies with student characteristics are presented, recommendations for further research are made,…

A study examined the validity of using questions concerning retirement expectations in large-scale micro surveys. A simple static labor supply model that considered wages, hours worked, and health data was developed for this purpose. Next, the model was implemented using data from the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) on the Labor Market…

Describes a study of 31 undergraduate students that explored their preferences for and the relationships among text format variables in computer screen layouts. The design of 64 computer text types for the study is explained, results are analyzed, and further research questions related to learning strategies are suggested. (LRW)

This workshop report presents excerpts of the panel discussions of 10 distinguished family researchers considering the feasibility of joint studies across the three Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration Institutes (the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National…

Reviews literature dealing with perceived reality in the television effects process from a construct validation perspective. Topics discussed include variables that influence the degree to which individuals perceive reality in televised messages, relationships with attribute variables, influence of reality perception on viewers' behavior and…

Describes study of 42 first and second graders which was conducted to determine whether older siblings could enhance their comprehension of television programs. The hypotheses tested are discussed, research methodology using analysis of variance is explained, videotapes of sibling interaction are analyzed, and future research needs are suggested.…

A 15-item questionnaire was administered on the online catalog terminals at the University of New England (Australia) to assess student attitudes toward computer technology and the new online catalog, and identify predictors of future online catalog use. Data analyses defined two groups of respondents: "reluctant users" and "naive enthusiasts."…

Examines the effects of such variables as socioeconomic status (SES), school size, grade span, type of computer, and student to computer ratio on the implementation of microcomputers. Analysis of a random sample of 128 elementary schools indicates that SES and student to computer ratio have the strongest impact on implementation. (Author/LRW)

Examines the importance of levels of questioning and types of feedback in designing courseware for computer-based education. Test results are analyzed for four groups of high school students who completed different versions of a computer-based science lesson, and recommendations for future research are given. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of teamwork and group decision making focuses on study of undergraduates conducted to identify the variables that affect team cohesion in a business game. A literature review on small groups and business games is presented, hypotheses tested are described, discriminant analyses are explained, and suggestions for further research are…

Discussion of instructional materials design focuses on using learner interests to increase relevance and motivation. A study is described that investigated the motivational effects of incorporating high school seniors' interests into instruction on syllogisms, using both high and low achievers. Results are analyzed, interests discussed, and…