The study examined whether classroom context cues in videotapes showing a nonhandicapped and a learning disability expectancy would affect evaluation bias of 80 elementary-school teachers. Results suggest that teachers hold initial biases about the behavior of learning-disabled students but take into account the classroom context when rating…

Examined the correspondence between the roles of family and work figures, using 10 adults who had at least one year experience in their jobs. Results support the view that in working, people reenact roles and dramas from their families of origin, but these results must be regarded as tentative and promising. (ABL)

The Excellent Principal Inventory is a unique evaluation instrument that enables principals to obtain confidential performance feedback from superiors, peers, and teachers. Five research-based commitments (to student success, teaching and learning, the school staff, innovation, and leadership) reflect the values and behaviors developed for the…

Investigates behavioral characteristics of 223 runaway and homeless youth who sought services from programs in New York. Results suggest that behavioral indicators of maltreatment can be observed among runaway and homeless youth. Indicators vary as a function of gender, maltreatment, and reasons for seeking assistance. (RJC)

Basketball experts (N=28) responded to "rule- and norm-related behavior" questionnaire, assessing crisis relevance of behaviors which were against rules of situation and were either fair or unfair, called or not called by officials. Results revealed that officials' calls and fairness of violations substantially influenced diagnostic…

The structure of adaptive behavior as a function of age and handicap status was investigated with 288 mentally retarded persons and nonretarded controls. Exploratory analysis of the subscale scores from the Scales of Independent Behavior revealed a large Adaptive or Personal Independence dimension and smaller Academic, Personal Responsibility, and…

The relationship between abnormal stereotyped behaviors and abnormal focused affections was examined in 20 children (ages 7-13) with developmental disabilities. Results include all children with abnormal focused affections exhibited stereotypes; abnormal focused affects could be studied reliably in this population through several methodologies;…

Prosecuting and defense attorneys across Indiana were surveyed concerning the acceptability of specific behaviors associated with child abuse. Among respondents (n=154) prosecutors had more severe judgments than defense attorneys on 32 of the 42 behaviors. Cognitive dissonance theory is proposed as an explanation for these findings. (Author/DB)

Ten vignettes depicting either major or minor hypothetical problem situations were presented to 25 young adults with intellectual disability and 14 university students. Participants with intellectual disability tended to make fewer vigilant responses and more defensive avoidance or hypervigilant responses, compared to the university students.…

Three experiments were conducted involving five people with profound multiple disabilities, to determine whether variations in alertness affected subsequent responsiveness to training programs. Findings suggest that existing levels of alertness do not indicate how individuals will respond during training and that alertness actually can be…

This editorial introduces two articles on Munchausen by Proxy syndrome (the induction of an appearance or state of physical ill health in a child, by the caretaker, and the child's subsequent presentation to health professionals for diagnosis and/or treatment). The severity of the caretaker's psychological disturbance and the serious effects on…

When 354 college students (approximately 70% European American) were asked to rate 19 ambiguous instructor immediacy behaviors for appropriateness, males rated 12 of the 19 to be significantly more appropriate than females and indicated significantly greater comfort with 14 of 19 behaviors. (SLD)

Argues that theory in educational administration is not theoretical but comprises descriptions of ideological perspectives. Ties this argument to patterns of thinking revealed in theory debate and in descriptive statements of theory. These thinking patterns possess an identifiable psychological mechanism called a personal construct. Suggests how…

Estimates schooling's effect on the odds that men and women smoke for five age cohorts, using 1989 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data. Schooling reduces the odds that men (ages 25 to 54) and women (ages 25 to 44) smoke. Schooling does not affect whether men (ages 55 to 64) or women (ages 45 to 64) smoke. (MLH)

Relative prevalence of stereotyped behaviors was studied with 246 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Two staff members completed a 54-item checklist assessing stereotyped behaviors, abnormal focused affections, compulsions, rigidity, savant skills, and defensiveness. Factor analyses produced weak evidence for a general stereotypy…