Assessed relationship between group's ability to differentiate characteristics of conflict and consensus/cohesion formulation among 141 subjects in 32 problem-solving discussions. Determined that high consensus groups had significantly higher differentiation scores on depersonalized/positive and depersonalized/negative conflict than did low…

The linear logistic model with relaxed assumption is extended to designs with any number of time points or with different sets of items presented on different occasions, provided that one unidimensional subscale is available per latent trait. A sample application is presented. (SLD)

Examined Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), Hostility Toward Women Scale (HTWS), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Social Desirability and Defensiveness scales in 239 sexual offenders. Offenders against adolescents and adults had higher BDHI scores than offenders against children. MMPI Defensiveness scale accounted for…

Discusses difficulties technical writers and readers have concerning proposals that define problems and suggest innovation. Suggests that when writers recognize both their own and readers' assumptions about such problems, they can adopt techniques to gain reader concurrence. (KEH)

The contribution of item response theory to the validity of interpretations of achievement test results is reviewed in the context of four applications. The applications include construction of scales for achievement tests, test construction, development of customized tests, and investigation of the influence of instruction on achievement tests.…

Responds to five major articles by Duckworth, Goldman, Healy, Sampson, and Goodyear on issues pertaining to testing and assessment in counseling psychology. Suggests that such a diversity of approaches leads to a more comprehensive and flexible model of counseling, adaptable to differences in clients, context, and counselor personalities. (TE)

Describes a "Shakespeare Coursework Unit" in which Shakespearean and other literary works of the Tudor era were analyzed for evidence of the gender biases prevalent in that period. Notes that by the end of the course, students accepted the assertion that textual analysis is never truly completed. (SG)

A model based on latent trait theory, with maximum likelihood parameter estimates and associated asymptotic tests, is presented. Latent curve analysis is a method for representing development and is an alternative to repeated measures analysis of variance and first-order auto-regressive models. (SLD)

Argues that Christa Wolf's novel "Patterns of Childhood" provides opportunities for students to consider the adolescent dilemmas of the protagonist Nelly and to reflect on how they themselves are coming to terms with the world. Notes that the novel forces students to see Nazi Germany with new eyes. (RS)

Examines reading interests and reading responses to American young adult fiction among students from the multiracial culture of Singapore. Finds that Singapore teenagers need little motivation in reading American young adult fiction because of their positive attitude towards language acquisition. Notes that the teenagers can be sidetracked by the…

Discusses recent research about contesting the deficit models of language and class. Criticizes the work of Barbara Tizard and Martin Hughes, claiming that, in fact, they create a new version of the deficiency model and fail to analyze the differentials in access to schooling. Notes that such a model ignores social circumstances. (KO)

Responds to Lustig's (1987) critique of Bales and Cohen's (1979) interpersonal rating forms. Results are reported from a test of the Bales and Cohen rating forms administered to 145 subjects from a variety of organizations, and revisions are proposed based on methodological and theoretical considerations. (TE)

Investigated the age at which children first acquire understanding of others' feelings and of ways in which they can affect others' feelings. Also considered the relation of children's development in this domain to their understanding of the nonsocial world. Findings indicated that it was possible to predict the age at which children would pass…

An approach to French literature appreciation uses two versions of a de Maupassant story. The approach provided students an opportunity to examine text structure and language usage, explore the process of revision, and compare the first and second versions of the author's efforts. (MSE)

This article explores the problem of planning and how it underlies many of the problems common to first-year teachers. A related problem, how teachers define their students and themselves, is also considered. Case studies of three first-year teachers provide a context for discussion of these problems. (IAH)