Critiques recent research on the social evaluation of assertive speech. Proposes an alternative theoretical framework, based on speech act theory. Assertiveness is viewed as a style of conversation occurring in complex interpersonal contexts. (Author/BJV)

Responds to critical analyses of an earlier article by the author, who had argued that feminism created a political climate that has led to research that inaccurately minimizes psychological gender differences. The article summarizes and explains the author's agreement and disagreement on several points raised in the critical analyses. The notion…

Explores how agoraphobia is realized through the activity of storytelling. Analyzes one agoraphobic woman's narrative to articulate the narrative structuring of a panic episode, the grammatical resources systematically recruited to portray panic as unaccountable and the protagonist as irrational and helpless, and a recurrent communicative dilemma…

Describes a study that examined whether statistically significant differences existed among performance levels of college students in a beginning media writing class when compared according to cognitive style and learning style subgroups. Results are reported for five mass media formats--broadcast news, television copywriting, documentary,…

Discusses three themes important for the future progress of developmental psychology: (1) a focus on not only individuals, but also individuals in networks of relationships; (2) description as the first, but not the only, stage in the analysis of developmental processes; and (3) a multidisciplinary approach. (BC)

Discusses an evaluation of the use of role playing in teaching about research ethics. Reports that students first evaluated the utility of selected studies, then explored the ethics of research projects, with and without role playing. Concludes that role playing helped sensitize students to ethical issues in research. (SG)

Application of the bootstrap method to complex psychological analysis is illustrated using a simulation experiment with two populations with small and large samples. The method provides variance estimates, allows testing of nested competing models, and gives a preliminary idea about parameter variability. (SLD)

Discusses a technique for identifying the function of minimal responses in conversation. Describes a study in which subjects listened to one of two versions of a recorded conversation: one complete, one with minimal responses deleted. Concludes that minimal responses serve to denote agreement and suggest informality. (DK)

Describes a study of effects of socio-cognitive mediation among children. Reports manipulation of two factors: ego-boosting representation of the subject's ability to perform a task, and representation the children had of others. Concludes that performance was superior when children worked in dyads, dyad composition affects interaction modes, and…

This paper examines, from a quantitative psychological perspective, recent literature on shame and its relationship to behavioral disorders for applicability to university health education. Topics cover shame and mental illness, eating disorders, substance abuse, and the measurement of shame. A curriculum for psychological health is discussed.…

Describes a framework to explain how organizational culture influences the organizational behavior of individuals and groups. Focuses on organizational culture in schools, and poses questions for research. Observes that understanding the needs hierarchy of different cultures helps explain the relationship between organizational culture and…

A survey with a list of 31 words that are commonly used as scale labels for the evaluation of medical student performance was mailed to 132 instructors who teach in family practice preceptorships. Data analysis consisted of generating median, twenty-fifth percentile, and seventy-fifth percentile values for each label. (MLW)

Examined differences among middle-aged, middle-class female adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and female non-ACOAs with regard to interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. ACOAs report higher levels of depression, marital conflict, and parental role distress; lower levels of self-esteem, perceived social support, family cohesion, marital…

Focuses on the relations that could exist between the degree to which a referent is open to discussion, and the production of elaborated argumentative discourse as a function of age. Finds that topics with a clear, socially-defined "correct" position elicited fewer and less nuanced arguments than topics without strong social constraints.…

Redefines "Jensenism" in terms of the personal qualities and beliefs that have made Jensen a researcher of note, including tackling controversial topics with empiricism. Illustrates these aspects of "Jensenism" by recounting personal experiences with Jensen and his research. (SLD)