This book presents a discussion and analysis of various theories of play behavior. The book is divided into 12 chapters. The first chapter delineates 3 criteria (intrinsic motivation, suspension of reality or make-believe, and internal locus of control) that distinguish play from nonplay behavior. Chapter 2 reviews scientific research on the…

This classroom observation manual (Fall 1976) was developed for use in the evaluation of Project Developmental Continuity (PDC), a Head Start demonstration program aimed at providing educational and developmental continuity between children's Head Start and primary school experiences. The manual provides detailed instructions for the observer on…

Stress-arousing problems related to specific college student characteristics were investigated. Data were collected from 2,408 university undergraduate students during the 1977-1978 academic year, using a one-page instrument which, in addition to the students' responses, afforded information as to their class, major, campus, type of residence,…

An overview of research focused on the prediction of dangerous behavior among criminals and mental health patients is presented. Studies (N=3) conducted by the Bureau of Special Projects Research, New York Department of Mental Hygiene are described, as well as studies providing evidence on clinical and statistical predictions. The findings of…

Noting that one means of better understanding the nature of cultural differences is to elucidate the cognitive differences between members of differing cultures, this paper examines Alexander Luria's sociohistorical theory of functional cognitive systems. The paper first describes Luria's notion of functional systems, the crux of which postulates…

The relationship between student characteristics and the frequency with which students left campus on weekends was investigated. Subjects were 411 undergraduate students who completed an 11-item self-report instrument designed to measure the influence of students' class rank, sex, and distance from home on behavior, their reasons for…

The behavior of junior high school students and teachers in English and mathematics classes was observed from November through April in an attempt to identify the relationship between teacher and student behavior, compare behaviors in the two different classes, and note changes in behavior over this period. Some fluctuation was observed in task…

Presenting a model for the comparative analysis of farm organizations, this paper analyzes the farm firm as a complex organization; identifies key structural dimensions of an agricultural production unit; and reviews various organizational perspectives for their utility in understanding and explaining the behavior of farm operations and farm…

The social network of elderly blacks was compared with whites in a sample of 241 ambulatory persons interviewed in congregate settings in a planning district of a border Southern state. Questions were asked about monthly patterns of social interaction, such as visiting and phone contacts with children, other kin, neighbors, friends, involvement in…

In 1976, suicides in the 15-24 year-old group (N=4,747) made up over 17% of all suicides in all age groups (N=26,750). In 1968, adolescent suicides (N=2,591) were only 12% of the total (N=21,000). Adolescent suicide rate is alarming unless put into perspective with the accident rate and the cultural belief in individual rights, responsibility, and…

Interpretation of experimental tasks is influenced by knowledge of the language used, by assessment of what the experimenter intends, and by how subjects themselves would normally represent the physical situation. Whether these processes in which children engage in cognitive studies differ from those employed by adults in similar tasks was…

TO DETERMINE HOW COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS ABOUT RULES OF BEHAVIOR AFFECT THE POSITION AND ROLE OF TEACHERS, INFORMATION ABOUT THE NORMATIVE STRUCTURE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WAS GAINED THROUGH USE OF ROLE NORM INVENTORIES ADMINISTERED TO 367 TEACHERS, 22 PRINCIPALS, 7 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, 603 CITIZENS, 56 COMMUNITY LEADERS,…

The paper presents an overview of an ethological approach to the study of abnormal human behavior and a review of research using ethological approaches (with an emphasis on autism research). Ethology is defined as the study of behavior as it occurs in its natural habitat. The four types of questions ethologists ask about behavior, such as what is…

National surveys of teenagers have provided information for making decisions about smoking prevention programs. Repeated surveys are necessary because smoking patterns change over time. The prevalence of adolescent smoking and the variables related to it were investigated as well as the potential utility of those variables in predicting habitual…

Because studies have shown that educators need to become more aware of the effects of stress upon their students, this guide presents basic information about stress and anxiety in children from infancy to adolescence. Experiences are provided through which students can learn to deal more effectively with stress, together with definitions of the…