The "Handbook of Research Methods in Early Childhood Education" brings together in one source research techniques that researchers can use to collect data for studies that contribute to the knowledge in early childhood education. To conduct valid and reliable studies, researchers need to be knowledgeable about numerous research…

"Conation" is action derived from instinct, purposeful mode of striving, volition. It is a conscious effort to carry out self-determined acts and, as such, may result in the same goal being approached by different individuals through the use of different actions. It is a critical, yet neglected aspect of the "tripartite" human mind, which is…

Some writers have suggested that males and females differ not only in influencibility, but also in the strategies which they use to influence others. Although general sex differences in friendships may affect influence strategies, there is little research comparing males' and females' friendships. To explore differences between same- and…

As large numbers of women enter the labor force, decision making and power processes have assumed greater importance in marital relationships. A sample of 51 (N=101) dual-career couples were interviewed to assess independent variables predictive of process power, process outcome, and subjective outcomes of decision making in dual-career families.…

Research has associated high levels of private self-consciousness (PSC) with accurate self-knowledge and with behavior consistent with one's attitudes. A study by Buss and Scheier reported that privately self-conscious persons are more susceptible to attribution bias, the self-focus of such persons leading them to attribute their positive and…

Factor analyzed combined items from Rotter's Internal-External Scale and Levenson's Multidimensional Internal External Locus of Control scales revealing factors similar to Difficult World, Just World, Predictable World, and Politically Responsive World, and additional factor, Friendly World. Most factors were correlated with masculinity; only…

This study examined personality traits in 63 pairs of fathers and mothers in which there was acknowledged child sexual abuse by the fathers. A minority of both mothers and offenders differed from norms on traits reflecting social inadequacy, but no personality deviations were prototypical in either group. No evidence for pervasive…

Previous research on the concept of perceived control has assumed that beliefs about control reflect a generalized personality trait and that people desire as much personal control as possible. To investigate whether perceptions of and needs for control vary across different life domains, and whether the discrepancy between perceived and desired…

In separate research studies, students who were given a choice of learning materials or who had control over aversive noise, demonstrated higher motivation and better task performance. To investigate the additive effects of choice and control on perception of control, 80 male and female college students participated in a 2 (choice vs. no-choice) X…

Research has proposed that personality traits may be derived from emotions and that individuals tend to judge another's personality traits on the basis of observed emotional reactions. To examine the relationship between personality and emotional traits within ecologically valid settings, 22 college students (19 females, 3 males) rated their…

Type A individuals are characterized by a sense of urgency, hard-driving competitiveness, and hostility which are manifested in their attempts to establish and maintain control over personal and environmental events. In order to investigate conformity and interpersonal dominance in Type A personalities, 87 male college students completed the…

Self-initiation of activities by individuals may have an affect on their mood. To study the relationship between the appraisal of self-initiated activities and dimensions of positive or negative affect 36 graduate students (22 female and 14 male) engaging in a total of 202 activities appraised dimensions of the activities and responded to a…

Administered items from three locus of control (LOC) tests and the Beck Hopelessness Scale to 197 undergraduates. Factor analyses produced multiple factors for each LOC test; Beck proved to be unidimensional. Each LOC test contained salient dimension describing belief in luck, chance, or fate. Other common themes were internal control and…

Examines motivational processes within different goal/reward structures, i.e., competitive, cooperative, and individualistic. Reviews the results of several studies of teacher and student perceptions of personal ability and success and failure. Discusses educational implications of the authors' conclusion that alternative goal structures lead to…

Clergymen are regarded by their congregations as having the authority to influence church members and clergymen are expected to exert influence. Three types of clerical authority have been identified: charismatic, traditional, and legal-rational. The common assumption that people select power strategies that are consistent with their perceptions…