A new method for determining the durations of mental events, the method of special effects, was developed and applied to a series of three experiments. The method measures the effects of various context stimuli on the speed of responses to a probe stimulus. By varying the interval between onset of context and probe, the time courses of these…

Scientific rigor, including research design and data analysis, has been established and can now be applied to careful investigations outside the laboratory. This rigor can assist in studying the areas of human development and behavior. Without it, research in natural environments will continue to be inadequate and inaccurate sources of knowledge.…

Critical features of sound observational studies fall under three categories: the sampling framework; the theoretical model; and the statistical procedure. If the methodology for explanatory, rather than descriptive, observational studies can be applied within these categories, more consistent, convincing, useful explanations of educational…

The time taken to name 56 drawings of objects on five separate occasions were analyzed for 21 ESN(M) children (i.e., moderately educationally subnormal) and 21 ESN(S) children (i.e., severely educationally subnormal), matched for picture-naming vocabulary. Results were discussed in terms of the Oldfield (1964) and Lachman (1973) models of lexical…

Recent studies are examined for methodological adequacy in establishing dimensions of individual differences in information-processing abilities, and the theoretical problems involved in inferring psychological processes from individual difference dimensions. Methodological inadequacies include use of small samples, questionable procedures in…

Barrett, Maier, Ekstrand, and Pellegrino in 1975 reported relatively large drops in performance from the criterion trial to an immediate retention test using a study-test free-recall paradigm. The present experiment was designed to determine whether this criterion fall was associated with the use of a retrieval strategy involving short-term…

Examines the process by which the college experience contributes to the adolescent's work on identity. Analyzes specific variables which determine the college environment's influence upon students, namely: 1) the amount of student-teacher interaction; 2) the identity status of the students; and 3) the degree of fit between student values and the…

Studies the effects of training a mother in increase praise statements and decrease reprimands on the rate of her daughter's noncompliant behavior. Results suggest that parent training is effective in reducing deviant child behavior, i.e., the use of positive reinforcement and the withholding of reprimands appeared to effect a marked reduction in…

Discusses hypotheses suggested for consideration by those black educators and parents who are involved in the educational process with the black child; these hypotheses are based on extensive clinical investigation and research. It is contended that black independent schools are facing the same complex problem that has plagued Western…

This paper critically examines the locus of control literature on the personality dimensions of internal and external control. It discusses the ideological bias of the internal-external control construct, the racist implications of the research and writing emanating from this construct and the limitations of the construct to contribute to a better…

Five experiments were conducted comparing performance on paired-associate lists of stimuli that rhymed with lists of stimuli that did not rhyme. Results are discussed in terms of the role of input position cues in aiding discrimination among items. (Editor/RK)

Seven experiments are described investigating the effecy of high intensity white noise during the visual presentation of words on a number of short-term memory tasks. Examines results relative to position learning and sequence learning. (Editor/RK)

Investigates the relationship of personality characteristics to organizational withdrawal and tests the Porter and Steers "polar" hypothesis, i.e., employees with high levels of emotional instability, anxiety, achievement orientation, aggression, independence, self-confidence and sociability were more apt to withdraw from organizations…

Presents an overview of research on disability and integrates rehabilitation research with the mainstream of scientific activity. Examples of disability research are given covering spinal cord injury, facial disfigurement, cancer of the larynx, and cystic fibrosis. (Author/TA)

Changed trial group employees from a 5/40 to a 4/40 work schedule for four months then returned to a 5/40 schedule. In a second study, changed trial group employees from 5/40 to flextime. Organizational effectiveness was selectively enhanced. The most powerful effect was on worker attitudes. A mild positive effect was evident for several general…