The research literature on the psychometric properties of self-appraisals of work performance summarizes many results in terms of leniency, variability, halo, and construct validity. Comparisons with appraisals tend to show more leniency, less variability, more bias, and less discriminant validity. Different factor structures are found among self-…

An approach to human performance based on economic concepts is described; the human system employs utility considerations to determine allocation of its limited resources. The efficiency of those resources in performance depends on parameters characterizing the task and the performer. Models and interpretations of dual task performance are…

Identifies external and internal variables that affect public-sector organizations. Contextual frameworks are developed as orienting devices for organization development intervention in divisions of state welfare systems. Describes tactics of change in ambiguous performance settings and focuses on internal influence variables expected to affect…

A review of the literature on the spatial functioning of the blind, the results of a questionnaire of 75 sighted college students and their parents, and results of a study of 87 blind and seeing adults' performance on three spatial tasks are presented. The review suggested that adventitiously blind individuals perform better than congenitally…

The relationship between performance on various Piagetian and reading achievement tasks as examined through 26 correlational studies is reviewed. The following areas of concern are addressed: (1) sample characteristics of the subjects; (2) classification of the Piagetian tasks into five categories of logical operations, spatial concepts, general…

Review of 1978 research in the field of vocational behavior and career development. Traditional variables receive attention; e.g., Holland's theory, interests, job satisfaction, performance, and women's movement. Other emerging variables stimulating research were the life-span aspects of careers and interventions in career development. (Author)

Presents a brief overview of research and developments in the study of formal operations thought since 1972 along with some speculations concerning future research directions. (Author/MP)

Clark's Semantic Feature Acquisition theory of semantic development is reviewed and evaluated against the recent experimental literature with special reference to the acquisition of English antonyms. (Author/MP)

Do practitioners use different techniques in treating children and adults? This study of task-centered treatment uses a typology of communication techniques to investigate this question as well as to specify typical patterns of communication and determine their relationship to outcomes. (Author)

Estimation techniques of physical capacities have been used by the United States Employment Service for a period of 40 years. In one technique, benchmarks are used to define 27 different capacities and 27 working conditions, which are ultimately consolidated into six groups of the former and seven groups of the latter. The benchmarks are actual…

Strategies for initiating employee alcoholism and assistance programs in higher education institutions are considered. Barriers to faculty utilization of such programs include visibility of work performance and nature of supervision. Modes for adapting existing program designs to higher education are suggested. (Author/JMF)

This paper describes the design of a project to evaluate the impact of computer conferencing on the productivity-related work patterns of scientists, and to determine whether they will use the network this technology makes available to them. Literature relevant to this research problem is reviewed, drawing primarily from small group research on…

From a review of empirical research, a new theoretical synthesis of anxiety's effect on learning and memory is proposed: anxiety always reduces processing effectiveness, by generating task-irrelevant processing activities, but this will not impair performance efficiency if sufficient compensatory effort is expended. (SJL)

Describes the past, current, and suggested future practices in the delivery of school psychological services at the high school level. It is proposed that school psychologists must become integrated into the total social system of the high school to be most effective. (Author)

Reports the results of a series of experimental studies and a sociodemographic survey designed to determine the relative influence of age and educational experience in the development of cognitive skills as manifested in formal, psychological experiments. (CM)