This paper re-considers some of the evidence for low and declining social mobility in Britain, showing that one study based on a re-analysis of cohort figures appears to have had an impact on policy-makers out of all proportion to its scale and rigor. The study claimed to show that the income of parents and children were more closely related for…

Explores strategies frequently utilized in developmental research laboratories and discusses the power of these strategies in isolating the major variables whose effects are age (or time)-related. The paper also provides information about the key developmental antecedents of age differences. (Author/WY)

Using data collected through telephone interviews with a national sample of adults, this study searched for evidence as to whether interviewers have stronger effects on the responses given to a wide range of questions by older people than on the responses of younger people. Responses to 30 items for which significant interviewer effects had…

The intent of this paper is to demonstrate that the standard age effect in analysis of variance provides an ineffective means of assessing developmental change when several age levels are involved and a roughly monotonic trend can be expected. (Author)

To assess young children's understanding of false belief, investigators often show them a familiar container, then demonstrate that it holds an object different from the one the children expected. The children are then asked what they originally thought the container held, and what another container will hold. Three-year-old children typically…

The effects of selective dropout and retesting on the assessment of developmental changes in abilities during adolescence are examined. (ST)

Determined whether category norms collected from college students are appropriate for research with older adults. Concluded that for most of the categories studied here, it is appropriate to use the Battig and Montague norms when choosing stimuli for experiments with middle-aged and elderly adults. (Author)

It has been suggested that surveys dealing with the incidence of crime among the elderly do not take into account the varying individual and group levels of fear and exposure to threat of victimization. Data from Law Enforcement Assistance Administration surveys were used to review the personal victimization of older persons, incorporating the…

This report presents the problem and a solution to the treatment of students by age interactions. It considers the plight of an educational researcher who wishes to demonstrate that a particular treatment effect changes from age to age. In analysis of variance language, he is seeking a treatment by age interaction. The report presents a rationale…

A recognition-based paradigm was used to investigate possibility that past research failed to sensitively assess infants' perception of the unity of misaligned edges in partial occlusion displays. Results suggested that habituation designs tapping recognition processes may be particularly efficacious in revealing infants' perceptual organization.…

Discusses ambiguities in research that arise from the fact that chronological age reflects different components. Considers methodology, components of age as indices of different aspects of development, differential effects of experiences according to their timing, and maturational delay. (RJC)

Summarizes data on developmental patterns in constructive play--play in which children use play materials to make something. Reviews knowledge about developmental correlates and effects of constructive play behavior and examines methodological and theoretical issues. (NH)

Identifies four major areas of recent investigations: cross-cultural studies of political socialization, the focus on the interactive nature of the individual in the process of learning about politics, the need to examine the comparative impacts of the various agencies of political socialization, and methodological and conceptual refinements.…

The evidence for possible negative effects of first-name characteristics on personal functioning is equivocal. Two studies were conducted that avoided previous methodological problems of measurement, sampling, and statistical control. Results indicated that children's social competence and school achievement were unrelated to the frequency or…

Provides examples of research examining relationships between psychosocial variables and injuries, and highlights some common methodological problems. Argues that research of this nature has little potential for being translated into practical countermeasures and, as such, should be accorded low priority. (RH)