This paper reviews 20 cross-cultural studies conducted with the Defining Issues Test (DIT). All or part of the samples in the studies were non-Americans who had not been a part of the populations presented in the DIT manual. The studies were aimed at the comparison of moral reasoning structure and development across cultures. Several aspects of…

The thesis that Mexican Americans share a monolithic, "pathological" subculture that causes difficulties Mexican American children may have in adapting to Anglo society is challenged, using data from studies of Mexican American families and youth. Origin of the theory that all Mexican Americans share a negative subculture is detailed,…

Critiques a research study on ethnic and gender differences in a British secondary school physical education program. Discusses problems of small-scale research on race and gender. Concludes that Muslim values appear sexist and oppressive and that school-community cooperation can improve educational opportunities for all children. (CFR)

Reports on a study of Muslim children in physical education classes in a British secondary school. Finds areas of cultural conflict, such as physical education uniforms and regulations about showering after class. Calls for better preservice and inservice teacher education in a wider educational and societal context. (CFR)

Reports on surveys comparing personal and moral values of 89 Saudi Arabian and 96 British adolescents. Finds that Islam has a profound impact on the values of the Saudi students, whereas religious views have only a limited effect on the British students. Also finds that the British students place a higher value on friends and family. (ACM)

This collection of essays seeks to prepare educational theorists and practitioners to accept diversity as a fundamental element in all educational decision making. The collection defines diversity broadly to include differences along racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, ability, socioeconomic, language, and gender lines. Themes running throughout…

Clergymen are regarded by their congregations as having the authority to influence church members and clergymen are expected to exert influence. Three types of clerical authority have been identified: charismatic, traditional, and legal-rational. The common assumption that people select power strategies that are consistent with their perceptions…

The religious beliefs of ordinants in three different types of theological colleges and of postgraduate trainee teachers in a secular university education department in Great Britain were assessed, using a four-dimensional model which makes possible comparisons between levels of belief, agnosticism, dogmatic acceptance of belief, and dogmatic…

This two-part anthology contains a series of background readings on church-state issues designed to provide primary materials through which North Carolinians can better understand the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Part 1 gives historical and philosophical background in four chapters: (1) "God's Country: Perception or Presumption?"; (2)…

Presents results of a study of 16 to 18 year olds measuring attitude toward Christianity and interest in science. Finds significant negative correlation between the two. Cites key factors explaining this negative relationship as the perception of Christianity as necessarily involving creationism and of science as attaining to absolute truth or…

The social work profession endows individual social workers with the mandate to respect and use the democratic processes to help clients achieve their fullest potential as individuals. This study was undertaken to understand and analyze if and how this mandate has been affected by the prescriptive social and political values of the New Right…

Reports on a study of 102 Israeli males, ages 22-30, on the relationship between religiosity and the obligation work norm. Finds that the level of obligation to work was significantly higher in the religious group than in the nonreligious group. (CFR)

Presents survey results on the movement to abolish corporal punishment in public education. Reports that fundamentalist Protestants are more supportive of corporal punishment than others. Predicts that religion is likely to be the route for public mobilization on this issue. Suggests that the greater punitiveness of Protestant fundamentalists…

Maintains that spirituality, by reason of its very nature and essence, is antithetical to the goals of state education. Argues that efforts to define spirituality as separate from religion are disingenuous and driven by a specific political agenda. Discusses the conflicting goals of spirituality and secular institutionalization. (MJP)

Explores the reasons for the extraordinary conversion to Christianity among the Naga peoples of northeastern India. Almost the entire population has converted within the last 100 years. Tests the usefulness of models of religious change generated from fieldwork on conversion in Africa, specifically Robin Horton's "intellectualist"…