Classroom strategies for helping secondary social studies students develop the following types of creative thinking are suggested: (1) the ability to generate alternative courses of action or alternative solutions in a problem solving situation; (2) the ability to perceive and predict consequences; and (3) the ability to perceive analogies. (RM)

This article focuses on the following areas of group process: the nature of the task group, the steps taken to reach a decision, and the ways in which a leader can effectively manage the inevitable conflict that emerges within groups as the problem-solving process progresses. (CT)

How do more experienced school administrators think about and attend to problems in school administration? This paper presents findings of a study that compared how principals and aspiring principals cognitively processed and solved a problem scenario. A total of 30 practicing principals and 24 aspiring principals (referred to as the "novice…

This study determined the effectiveness of a conflict resolution curriculum on the attitudes and interactions of 18 seventh-grade students at a suburban middle school that served predominantly Caucasian, middle-class students. Students completed the curriculum 3 days per week for 7 weeks. Before and after the program, students filled out the…

This paper is designed to enable disability activists, parents, and advocates to negotiate effectively. It begins by describing negotiations for short-term or long-term changes and different approaches for negotiating. Steps for preparing for negotiation are listed, along with strategies: (1) control the negotiation session; (2) never negotiate…

Because in academic controversy both judicial expertise and legal precedent are virtually nonexistent, an Academic Dispute-Settlement Commission is proposed. (IR)

Suggestions for library media specialists to use in establishing relationships with administrators, teachers, students, and parents focus on four areas of interpersonal skills: knowing and trusting each other; accurately understanding each other; influencing and helping each other; and constructively resolving problems and conflicts. Fifteen…

Steps are outlined that parents of handicapped children may follow if they wish to pursue complaints about their child's education. The steps include: (1) identifying the problem; (2) understanding the school system organization; (3) knowing their rights; and (4) trying to reach informal agreements before using legal remedies. (PP)

Describes a new method of resolving conflicts, called "collective gaining," that has been implemented in the Forest Park (Illinois) public school system. The method encourages teachers, administrators, and school board members to work together to benefit all parties concerned. (Author/WD)

Two classrooms of first graders (N=40) were administered Damon's moral judgment measure, Shure and Spivack's social problem solving measure, and the Stanford-Binet vocabulary. Concurrently, two observers in the children's school environment recorded incidences of successful resolutions of interactions, amount of derogation, and the number of times…

Presents evidence that the psychological principles that govern the perception of decision problems and evaluation of probabilities and outcomes produce predictable shifts of preference when the same problem is framed in different ways. (Author/SK)

Proposes 10 hypothetical "mini-cases," and calls upon upperclass technical writing students either to select from 1 of 4 given responses or to devise their own. Explains that, after choosing answers, students collaborate to devise the best answers, then talk about their solutions in open class discussion. Provides suggested answers. (SG)

Noise in the form of random errors arising from choices is a common problem. Examined three different approaches for coping with noise. Found that reciprocity works, provided it is accompanied by generosity or contrition. Changing one's choice after a poor outcome was not seen as helpful. Other points are discussed. (RJM)

Examined the relationship between sibling conflict and marital satisfaction, spousal conflict, family emotional climate, and family problem-solving processes that involve siblings. Results indicated that equal treatment by parents, family harmony in family discussions of sibling problems, and parent perceptions of family cohesiveness were…

Notes innovation and creativity as an alternative to violent response to anger or frustration. Discusses prerequisites for success of social problem approach to conflict resolution and presents six specific steps to this approach and its benefits for both teacher and children. (HTH)