Examines patients (N=257) with lumbar spinal stenosis preoperatively and at six months to relate patient expectation to baseline function and pain and to determine how patient expectations and preoperative function interact to predict postoperative outcomes. Results show that patients with many preoperative expectations, particularly those with…

Tested theoretical and null hypotheses concerning principals' optimism, teacher perceptions of that optimism, and school effectiveness. Teachers and principals in 50 secondary schools responded to two standard measures. Teacher perceptions of their principal's optimism and of their school's effectiveness were correlated, but the principal's…

Predictors of language production skills were evaluated in 48 children and adolescents with Down syndrome and compared to 48 children matched for nonverbal mental age and mother's years of education. Comparison of two models found the model that incorporated comprehension performance (as well group membership, chronological age, cognition,…

Reports the findings of a follow-up study of children who participated in a longitudinal study of phonological and literacy development. Finds measures of phoneme awareness to be better predictors of spelling than measures of rime awareness. Supports the view that awareness of grammatical rules is important in determining orthographic proficiency…

Tests an eight-factor model of client actions/decisions in terms of the extent to which professionals counseling persons with HIV/AIDS believed that those actions/decisions presented ethical dilemmas, and the frequency with which they encountered such actions. Support for the model was shown. Several predictors of participant ratings are…

A study of 83 Australian adults with spinal cord injuries found that at least 56% had worked at some time post-injury and those who were working when surveyed had done so for an average of close to 10 years. Clerical, office, and administrative occupations proved to be the most suitable. (Author/CR)

Using data gathered from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Americans and their elderly parents (N=628), this research finds that such financial and structural factors as an adult child's income and his/her parent's need for assistance significantly influenced the frequency of an adult child's support for his/her parents. (Author/MKA)

Examines recidivism among 792 graduates of Arkansas' only boot camp. Results indicate that the primary predictors of recidivism were the type of offenses (drugs vs. others), race, and infractions while in boot camp. However, none of the predictors accounted for more than minor proportions of the variance in recidivism. (RJM)

Attempts to identify factors that predict persistent, decreased, or increased delinquency between early childhood and adolescence. Delinquent trajectories, resilience, the nature of the population, family background, and individual characteristics are discussed. Findings are organized by a model distinguishing between resilience and desistance.…

The purpose of this study was to offer a model for admissions to pharmacy colleges not using a weighted average formula and to test its consistency and predictive validity. Data from 247 applicants revealed that seven predictor variables showed a significant impact on the admissions process, and five predicted academic success (e.g., mathematics…

Samples adolescents and college students to examine relative contributions of egocentrism and sensation-seeking to risk-taking behavior. Results indicate a latent factor labeled risk-seeking predicted a latent factor labeled delinquent behavior, primarily indicated by alcohol consumption and delinquency. Other results indicate that consistently…

Due to increasing litigation, significant insight has been gained over the past several decades on the problem of suicide in jail and prison. Provides a brief overview of the progress in research, programming, and policy. Reviews the key areas of process research, risk assessment, and penological policy changes considered vital for the field's…

Analysis of objective admission criteria and first-year performance of veterinary students from preveterinary institutions of varying selectivity revealed that cumulative and required course GPAs, GRE Biology scores, and grades in biochemistry and physics appear to be good predictors of first-year academic performance regardless of selectivity of…

Compared mastery motivation on 2 tasks for 1- and 2-year-old children--25 with motor impairment, 25 with developmental delays, and 25 with typical development, but all matched for mental age. Found that the groups did not differ on any measure of mastery motivation. (MDM)

Examined affective and motoric reactivity hypothesized to be associated with later inhibited and uninhibited behavior. Affect and reactivity were classified at four months. Brain electrical activity was assessed at 9 months, and behavior toward novelty, at 14 months. Found that greater activation in both the left and right frontal hemispheres was…