A literature review describes several dimensions of cognitive styles in an effort to illustrate individual stylistic differences. Discusses the field dependence-independence dimension, taking into account age, sex, and cultural differences. Suggests that cognitive style theory needs to be structured in a broader theoretical framework. (NH)

Interviews with a random sample of 725 North Carolina farmers ascertained their levels of stress and the adequacy of social support systems. In general, younger farmers, those who worked more days on farm and those with financial concerns tied to the uncertainties of farm production, had greater stress levels. Social support also varied by age…

Compared patterns of coresidence with adult offspring for divorcees and widows aged 40 and over. Coresidence with offspring was most likely for recent widows in midlife and recent divorcees in later life. Older recent divorcees were less likely than recent widows to be household heads in these situations. Daughters appeared especially important in…

The study examined the demographic distribution of 102 subjects with attention deficits in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised standardization sample. Although neither age nor occupational status were significant, males and female residents of the West were overrepresented. (Author/DB)

To test whether the critical language learning period applies to second languages, the English proficiency was studied of 46 Asians varying in age at which they moved to America. Results on a grammaticality judgment task support the hypothesis; early arrivals were significantly superior to later arrivals in English proficiency. (TJH)

A sample of 2,232 children, aged three-five years, was administered the Preschool Reading Attitudes Scale to assess the developmental aspects of reading attitudes. Factor analysis on test-retest results for 360 subjects indicated stable and interpretable factors distinguishing three-, four-, and five-year-old students. (TJH)

Three studies examined effects of peer interaction on the problem solving of 150 children of 4-11 years. Age, task complexity, and task familiarity were found to qualify effects of peer interaction on motivation and learning. (RJC)

Evaluated contributions of age, presentation modality, task demand, and content structure to prose recall variation among adults. Tested 60 young and 60 older adults for recall of ideas in 641-word prose passage. Found recall for total number of idea units was significantly lower for older participants and for auditory presentation across both age…

Two studies involving 30 third graders and 26 adults, respectively, assessed whether success at learning to read is related to awareness of phonological structure of spoken language. Differences in phonological awareness appeared to account for much of the variance between good and poor readers at both age levels. (TJH)

Younger (N=24) and older subjects (N=24) generated one or three properties to set of 40 nouns. Subjects received incidental recall test immediately after, 1 week after, or 3 weeks after generation. Younger subjects recalled more nouns than did older subjects in all conditions, although both age groups exhibited high immediate recall. (Author/ ABL)

Investigated 48 fifth- and eighth-grade boys' moral judgments of stories featuring good intentions with bad outcomes. Clear differences in moral judgments were found between groups recruited from the same general social setting that were comparable in intelligence but different in moral and social behavior. (RJC)

Investigates the role of causal mechanism, sampling method, and sample size in causal reasoning of 216 sixth and ninth grade and college students. Subjects did not base judgments solely on covariation. Age differences were negligible when covariation was absent and striking when covariation was present. (RJC)

Results suggested that preadolescents and adolescents understand but reject or subordinate parents' conventional interpretations of family conflict, and reinterpret them as issues of personal jurisdiction. Parents understand but reject children's claims to personal jurisdiction, and state the issues in conventional terms. (RH)

Studied play development in 35 Down syndrome and 41 nonhandicapped young children during the transition from sensorimotor to representational functioning. During the transition, children with Down syndrome developed in a manner similar to that of nonhandicapped children, but at a slower pace. (RJC)

Surveyed 316 men and women from 3 age categories (20-29, 35-55, and 65 or older) about their major regrets and priorities in life. The most frequently cited regrets were related to missed educational opportunities and failure to have been more assertive and to have taken more risks. Differences were found between age groups; gender differences…