Examines the Rodgers, Rowe, and Buster (1998) epidemic model of the onset of social activities for adolescent sexuality. Maintains that its strengths include its theoretical potential to generate new hypotheses for further testing at the individual level. Asserts that its limitations include the lack of a well-developed statistical framework and…

Reviews and comments on Stoolmiller's (1998) criticisms of an epidemic model of the onset of social activities (EMOSA) and about nonlinear modeling in general. Discusses the idea of social contagion as a general theoretical tool. (Author)

Expands an existing nonlinear dynamic epidemic model of onset of social activities (EMOSA), motivated by social contagion theory, to quantify the likelihood of pregnancy for adolescent girls of different sexuality statuses. Compares five sexuality/pregnancy models to explain variance in national prevalence curves. Finds that adolescent girls have…

Based on the assumption that differences in personal meaning and in the social significance of loss predispose widows and divorced individuals to different, specific vulnerabilities during grieving, 410 separated, divorced, and widowed women, aged 23 to 76 years, with at least one child, completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist, the…

Examines attitudinal variables (e.g., math anxiety, attitude toward success), locus of control, high school grade point average (HSGPA), and Scholastic Aptitude Test Quantitative (SATQ) scores as predictors of first-quarter grades in a developmental mathematics course. Reports that HSGPA, SATQ, and self-confidence were significant predictors of…

This article reviews the literature on early admission to college and describes two high-schools-within-college institutions. It critiques a paper by Dewey G. Cornell and others (EC 601 042) on predictive measurement of socioemotional adjustment of accelerated adolescent females. The article also questions the value of social adjustment for…

This article replies to comments made in EC 601 043 concerning the authors' research on predictive measurement of socioemotional adjustment of adolescent girls enrolled in an early college entrance/acceleration program. The article notes that research on early college entrance has emphasized academic adjustment over socioemotional adjustment and…

Regression formulations and related concerns involved in dealing with wage discrimination suits involving college faculty are considered. Several models based in hypothesis testing "policy capturing" uses of multiple linear regression are presented, and problems related to the court's view of statistical significance are examined.…

Current admission criteria for graduate and professional programs are discussed, their validity in predicting graduate student success is examined, and a potentially more effective model for predicting the success of various student groups (women, minorities, older students) is outlined. Innovative admission criteria and procedures are also…