A decision-making approach to the study of adolescents' risky behaviors is described in detail. In contrast to other approaches, the decision-making approach assumes only that risk taking involves choosing among alternative courses of action, and that the chosen alternative, by definition, entails some chance of loss. A short definition of risky…

This paper responds to concerns about the suitability and appropriateness of theories of decision-making behavior in organizations by addressing conceptual and methodological issues grounded on the study of individual cognitive processes. It proposes that attention be directed to examining how individuals react to demands imposed by organizational…

Examines the conceptual framework of bipolar models of social knowledge use that are transactions between knowledge producers and decision makers. Topics discussed include methodological consequences of bipolar models; levels of validity in social research; social contexts of choosing models for social research; and views on the practice of…

This paper presents and discusses a conceptual model for understanding, describing, and explaining personnel selection processes and activities. Four theoretical strands--decision theory, impression formation, inference theory, and rating theory--are briefly discussed and woven together as the basis for the proposed model. The model is then used…

Two opposite views of the relations between moral cognition and moral action are described, their contrasting assumptions and implications are clarified, and the available empirical literature is reviewed. Research relating moral reasoning to real-life moral behaviors is summarized, with special attention given to design, measurement, and…

Described and critiqued are studies that attempt to describe how personality factors affect foreign policy decision making. Political behavior cannot be explained in terms of personality alone. Such an attempt is a psychological reductionism that ignores the chains of causation that run from underlying personality construct to social and political…

A review of the literature pertaining to organizational interviewing reveals a number of issues that have hindered research in that area in recent years. An analysis of these issues suggests that researchers should adopt an integrative approach to theory development--one that recognizes the situational differences of various organizational…

The relationship between centrally stated educational aims and those really in use at the classroom level is addressed. A critical review is presented of what has been achieved in this area, especially in Finland, both within legislation and by recent researchers. According to the authors, the lists of educational aims produced by policy-makers as…

The computerized group decision making system has potential to become an important part of an organization, but the research done thus far in this area is unfocused, lacks rigor and a theoretical base, and disregards the communication component of the technology except on the most pragmatic, fundamental level. A review of the research makes clear…

Reviews the knowledge utilization process by decision makers and examines how state agency officials in four areas (hazardous waste management, economic development, welfare, and education) use knowledge generated by policy analysis. Appendices include components of the 1988 knowledge utilization survey of state officials. (48 references) (LRW)

Responding to a critique of their earlier article, authors Levin and Meister, joined by Glass, attempt to clarify some of the issues and to correct implicit misunderstandings in the critique, while detailing the application of cost-effectiveness to educational interventions. Twenty footnotes are appended. (IW)

Examines in 13 articles, three areas of change in family research methodology. Considers major determinants of change in the subject matter of family studies. Addresses the central measurement problem of family studies, i.e., relationships. Presents illustrative examples of the advancement of research technologies in family studies. (RC)

Research on teacher thinking generally has failed to take into account teacher beliefs and understandings in both research methodology and in interpretation of data. Two models prevail in research on teacher thinking. The decision making model, which has undergone several modifications, tends to focus on explaining and understanding deliberate…

Evidence about minority students' educational and career decisions, especially as they apply to careers in management, is reviewed. Problems of data collection concerning minority students are identified, including the following: methodological difficulties in identifying the race of respondents and in weighting procedures that may result in…

This paper contains a review of the research to date on the impact of collective bargaining in elementary and secondary education. The areas reviewed include the impact of collective bargaining on wages, salary structures, class size, resource allocations, and decision-making processes in the school systems. Other areas covered relate bargaining…