Tests of the validity of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Third Edition Arithmetic, Coding, Information, and Digit Span (ACID) profile among 612 students with learning disabilities revealed that the ACID profile does not efficiently separate children with disabilities from those without disabilities. No ACID cutting score significantly…

This study explored predictors of graduating from versus dropping out of high school for 664 youths with severe emotional disturbances. Results indicate that almost 50% of the sample dropped out of high school. Participation in school-based counseling and vocational education was significantly associated with high school graduation. (Author/CR)

Examines adolescents' risk behaviors to determine whether these behaviors can predict adolescents' concern over contracting AIDS. Findings indicate that, regardless of whether adolescents engaged in the risk behaviors, they did not meaningfully differ in their concern about contracting AIDS. Results suggest that increased knowledge has not changed…

Uses regression analysis on career development measures to examine whether career maturity indicators are predictive of interest consistency, differentiation, and score elevation. Results indicate that interest consistency and score elevation were weakly predicted by the measure; no relationship existed between the attitudinal and cognitive…

Student evaluations (n=6,395) of 126 business faculty identified 12 predictors of teacher effectiveness; the highest ranked were presenting clearly, answering questions, treating students courteously, and being prepared. Ways to balance teaching, research, and service in rewarding faculty were suggested. (SK)

Examined predictors of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use with homeless adolescents and preadolescents (N=234). Results reveal that social influences (friends and family drug use) are strong predictors of experimental drug use and intentions to use drugs, as are several psychological factors (psychological well-being, assertiveness, and social…

Compared the language capacities of children at high risk for substance abuse to low-risk children to uncover focal areas of deficit. Results indicate that high-risk subjects' performance was significantly poorer on several measures of language ability. Findings suggest that poor language mediation increases the risk for substance abuse. (RJM)

Compared incarcerated recidivists and nonrecidivists enrolled in a cognitive behavioral therapy program to judge treatment effectiveness as a function of offense. Results indicate that recidivism was a significant predictor of change in pre- and postindirect hostility measures. Significant personality differences emerged for the offender…

Examined whether aggressive boys' hostile attribution bias extends to processing incoming information. Subjects were asked to segment videotaped actions based on information conditions about the two boys playing in the film. Aggressiveness predicted change in segmentation after the critical event only in the neutral prior-information condition,…

A study of 24 cleric and 45 noncleric child molesters and 48 cleric and 40 noncleric control subjects found a positive association between reports of being sexually abused as a child and becoming an abuser. Differences between cleric and noncleric molesters suggest a different etiology of offending. (CR)

This study, using multivariate analysis and operationalized variables, examined possible risk factors for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in 3,958 Australian women. The variables significantly associated with CSA were physical abuse, having a mother who was mentally ill, not having someone to confide in, and being socially isolated. Different…

Measured cognitive processing time, imagery skill, and spatial memory span of 128 children and adults, ages 8 to 20 years. Found that performance on spatial memory span tasks was largely predicted by imagery skill, which in turn was strongly linked to processing time; age was much less of a predictor in both cases. (EAJ)

Eighty-seven children with developmental delays identified in the preschool years were followed through elementary school to document regular or special education placement and child and preschool characteristics associated with placement. More than three quarters of the children were in special education programs through the primary grades and…

A study involving 88 eighth-graders investigated the relationship between students' self-concept, both in a global sense and more specific areas, with achievement scores in reading and mathematics. Results found a significant correlation between global self-concept and reading achievement and a weaker positive correlation for mathematics…

Investigated predictors of attainment in British students awarded first degrees. Those aged under 21 or between 26 and 50 at graduation were more likely to obtain good degrees (with first-class or upper second-class honors), but the pattern of age-related variation was different across different subjects of study. Overall, women were more likely…