To begin to pinpoint the forces at work in prize journalism, a study examined the value that managing editors of daily newspapers place on awards. Whether editors agree with their papers' awards policies and what they feel most affects reporters' attitudes about contests were also explored. In October 1984, questionnaires were mailed to 317…

With all the rhetoric on education appearing in the form of reports, legislative proposals, opinion polls, and statements from the profession, the observation of Lortie (1975) that "teaching, from its inception in America, has occupied a special, but shadowed, social standing. Real regard shown for those who taught has never matched the professed…

A review of the nature of educational reforms over the years provides evidence that education reform is a recurrent issue, and that the aims and focus of reforms also tend to be cyclical. Two characteristics of reform--programmatic and systemic--are identified, and it is pointed out that the major focus of previous reform cycles has been on…

This article reports on a symposium commemorating Lillien Martin's dissertation, "Analysis of Difference Sensations," by published in 1899. The symposium marked the centenary celebration in acknowledgement of Martin's pioneer efforts for women in the field of psychology. Psychophysics was concerned with the quantitative assessment of…

A teacher who feels secure, wanted, and recognized by the administration and the community, who is provided with adequate working conditions, including small classes and effective work space, and who is supported and encouraged to travel, study, and experiment is likely to behave in a highly professional manner and be very productive. (LRA)

This paper explores the possible measurable effects of mentors (major professors) on the subsequent productivity of the mentor's students. Also asked is whether there are benefits to the productive scientist who acts as a mentor. Analysis is based on a population of male biochemists (N=66) who obtained their doctorates in 1957, 1958, 1962, and…

Examines two problems with the promotion system fostered by the AAUP and certain universities: (1) the policies as they deal with junior faculty; and (2) the kind of colleague the policies have produced. (NH)

Language and literacy teachers in adult education vary widely in personal background, educational training, professional experience, interest in language and literacy, and enthusiasm for teaching. Teaching context and focus may differ greatly. Because of funding realities, teachers often need to find a balance between their own views of…

For the last several decades the academic discipline of rhetoric and composition has been trying to re-imagine itself, in part in response to the process of professionalization. Unfortunately, the yearning for recognition in a system that does not respect disciplines that are practical or applied has led to some consequences. First, as a…

Designed to clarify the roles played by prizes as evaluative mechanisms in journalism, a study examined journalists' attitudes toward both internal (professional) and external (nonprofessional) reward systems and then examined the ability of both individual-level and organizational-level variables to predict these attitudes and prize-seeking…

The purpose of this paper is to dispel myths about preparing program proposals for the American Psychological Association's annual convention. The report's goal is to increase the number of student presenters at future annual conventions. It has been determined that, for a variety of reasons, psychology graduate students participate more in poster…

Through personal reminiscences, the author chronicles his involvement with the Speech Communication Association and the Central States Speech Association beginning with his attendance at the twentieth annual convention of the National Association of Teachers of Speech in 1933. The author concludes with a recollection and summation of five problems…

Ten areas of change, or megatrends, are transforming the practice of public relations. First is the change from manipulation to effective adaptation to environmental demands, constraints, and opportunities. Second, the role of the public relations practitioner is changing from external counselor to internal team member and leader. Third is the…

This project investigated policy statements, training given to academic staff, and the reward structure and career path for academics in distance education among four major providers of distance education in Australasia. Seventy academic staff members from two universities and two colleges were interviewed and asked to complete a questionnaire.…

This paper examines the nature and degree of participation by sociologists associated with smaller colleges in the United States in professional sociology organizations. The objective is to encourage these sociologists to become more active in their professional organizations. Professional participation is interpreted to include research…