Higher education is facing pressures that prohibit valuable and illuminating research, including virtually no growth in the enterprise, lack of societal enthusiasm, competition among institutions, and stresses between faculty and administrators. Until these pressures are eased, improvements in higher education research will be minimal. (Author/LB)

Criticizes the current tendency to deal with the cultural styles of adolescence rather than the concrete problems of adolescents. Reviews the literature in order to determine the current perception of adolescence. Suggests methods of research which reflect more than a preoccupation with the youth culture. (KO)

The escalation of commitment has been variously labeled the psychology of entrapment, the sunk cost effect, and the too-much-invested-to-quit syndrome. This article reviews the state of research and describes four major determinants: project; psychological; social; and organizational variables. A model is provided. (YP)

This document is the report of a study of the distinctiveness effect on social infraction. Distinctive characteristics are those aspects of a person that are statistically uncommon within a social or cultural context. Previous research shows that people tend to categorize and make judgments about others on the basis of their distinctive…

The relationship between preschool children's level of gender understanding and their ability to identify gender-linked attributes was examined. Participants were 26 3-year-old and 30 4-year-old children who were administered a single-cue gender labelling task, Slaby and Frey's (1975) gender constancy test, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test.…

This research report identifies labor market areas (LMAs) that can be used for statistical and planning purposes in research on rural America. It details the process by which the 382 LMAs were delineated, using commuting-to-work data from the 1980 Census. A rationale for identifying LMAs appears first. The next part describes the research…

Defines a value system as a universal, prolonged, consistent structure of priorities that defines an individual's life plan. Reports on a study of individual values among 3,154 Russian adults in 3 major cities. Identifies four generalizations based on the data about social values and social change in Russia. (CFR)

This study compared Greek individuals (n=287) identified as engaging in delinquent behavior who had either been maltreated in childhood or not maltreated. Perceived parental abuse and/or psychological neglect were associated with various family and social characteristics as well as specific Greek societal and cultural factors. (Author/DB)

A 1983 survey of Texas homebuyers reveals a high degree of mismatch between the preferred and actual residence of homebuyers. Such mismatch is examined using social/psychological, life-cycle, racial, socioeconomic, and occupational factors as possible explanations. Questionnaires mailed to a stratified random sample of 960 homebuyers across 12…

This paper reports on a year-long qualitative study of two elementary classrooms in a suburban community near Cincinnati (Ohio). The classes were very homogeneous racially with no students of Hispanic, African-American, Asian, or Pacific Island descent in either class. Interviews, classroom observations and participation, and analysis of student's…

An applied anthropological study was done of college student drinking games for insight into their role and function. Historical evidence suggests that drinking games have existed since ancient times, that such games encourage heavy drinking, and that despite awareness of the dangers associated with high levels of alcohol consumption, drinking…

Reports on experiment that tested college students' evaluation of geographic and racial information in determining the blame in a scenario describing a bar fight. Results indicated that white northern and southern samples of students tended to rate a geographically similar yet racially different actor more favorably. (MJP)

Presents the results of a study of high school students in Spain concerning the effects of introducing contradictory information about previously established stereotypes. Confirms earlier studies that suggested negative stereotypes are easier to establish and more difficult to discredit. Includes statistical analysis, data tables, and graphs. (MJP)

Effective rural development planning depends on facts and analysis based, not on rural averages, but on the diverse social and economic structure of rural America. Programs tailored to particular types of rural economies may be more effective than generalized programs. Because of their unique characteristics, government policies and economic…

The multidimensional concept of health status (complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity) was applied to migrant farmworkers, in an attempt to propose appropriate measures of the three dimensions of health and general health perceptions (GHP) of past, present and future health status. Data…