Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 and observed its 50th anniversary in 1985. This document discusses the changes that have taken place in knowledge about alcoholism. Specifically, this booklet compares what behavioral scientists knew about alcohol abuse and alcoholism in 1935 and what they knew and could do about them in 1985. Contributions…

Small group research presently suffers from five major weaknesses: lack of a common conceptual base, lack of appropriate design, lack of external validity, lack of adequate instrumentation, and lack of appropriate statistical procedure. Application of Cattell's three panel model (involving syntality, characteristics of internal structure, and…

K. Burke's (1945) pentad identifies five contributing factors in any communication event: agent, purpose, act, scene, and agency. Using the pentad as an organizational schema, this paper summarizes problems in methods used by behavioral researchers to study the deceptive communication event. The paper argues that fragmenting the communication act…

Examined the accuracy and validity of self-reports and their effect on tests of attitude-behavior relationships. Self-reports were reasonably accurate, but they produced results different from actual behavior in attitude-behavior tests. Concludes that self-reports and actual behavior should be measured, tested, and modeled separately. (Author/LS)

This commentary focuses on the application of D. Rogosa and G. Ghandour's work to observational research on classroom processes. Rogosa and Ghandour have shown that the short length of an observation is typically the dominant source of error. Investigators should conduct observations for as long as possible. (SLD)

An evaluation was made of the methodology and findings presented in "Television and Antisocial Behavior. Field Experiments," by Stanley Milgram and R. Lance Shotland (New York: Academic Press, 1973). In the book, seven experiments were reported, all concerned with antisocial behavior toward a medical charity. Three episodes of Medical…

Natural statistical models based on renewal processes for individuals' Behavior Stream are developed. For continuous observation, statistical and psychometric properties are obtained for empirical: (1) rates of behavior; (2) proportions of behavior type; (3) prevalence; and (4) event duration. Results provide a guide for design and analysis. (SLD)

Argues that rank order correlations may not be ubiquitously suitable for assessing the relations between children's behavior or characteristics at one age or in one situation, and those shown later or in another context. (HOD)

A broad search of the scientifically relevant literature on television and human behavior began in the fall of 1973 and extended over a year; the search concentrated on the literature since 1960, although it attempted to include all significant earlier works. In addition, special emphasis was placed on obtaining very recent, hard to locate, and…

Some 450 studies and other items judged to be of key importance to research on television and human behavior are summarized. For empirical research, each summary presents: (1) principal findings; (2) design and methodology; (3) theory and discussion. For theory, review and nonempirical works, each summary presents: principal conclusions and theory…

Current activity in the area of television research was reviewed, with an emphasis on some of the factors which will influence future research. An analysis was made of: (1) the priorities held by the scientific community in regard to research on television and human behavior, (2) the perspectives within the community that are likely to influence…