Examined contribution of family variables such as parenting and literacy activities to the pre-academic competence of 93 Head Start children. Found that maternal educational expectations, home literacy variables, and maternal school involvement were predictive of children's competence even after accounting for the effects of maternal education,…

Studies of student performance on entrance examinations and in high school and college courses are reviewed, and the validity of entrance examinations is studied. Scores tend to underpredict grades of females relative to those of males in mathematics courses. Possible explanations and the reform of mathematics education are discussed. (SLD)

Examines the prediction of delinquency in early adulthood. Results indicate relationships between aspects of parenting and severe delinquency and arrests/convictions, but not minor delinquency. The interaction of low levels of maternal communication/problem-solving skills and negative family variables was associated with higher rates of…

Presents results of a study in which organizational communication received strong support as a predictor of job satisfaction and weak support as a moderator of the job performance-job satisfaction relationship. Shows that communication dimensions with the greatest support as predictors were accuracy of information, desire for interaction,…

Examines the relationship between stressful life events, occurring in the year previous to the study, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among 350 college students. Results indicate that stressful life events were related to poorer HRQOL. Gender did not moderate the relationship between stressful events and HRQOL. (Author/RJM)

Investigated the effects of pubertal timing, demographics, family processes, and leisure activities on the timing of first sexual experience among adolescents (N=702). Higher levels of parental monitoring predicted later initiation of sexual experience for most participants. Higher levels of risky leisure also predicted earlier first sexual…

Examined the relationship between religion and politics during the transition to adulthood. Results based on 209 college students revealed no significant relationships between religious and political diffusion. Religious diffusion was the most powerful (negative) predictor of religious beliefs; similarly, political diffusion proved the most…

Two interrelated cross-sectional studies involving 751 children were conducted to investigate the correlates of outwardly directed aggressive behavior in children (ages 6-21) with mental retardation. Findings indicate that aggression was best predicted by concurrent self-injurious behavior. (Author/CR)

Identifies predictors of three key journalistic roles--the timely disseminator, the interpreter, and the adversary--and compares these predictors across countries. Suggests there are similarities between Russian and U.S. journalists' views, but also some notable differences. (RS)

Experienced secondary teachers completed a survey probing their feelings of personal efficacy toward teaching different classes. Teachers' performance expectancies varied among teaching assignments. Within-teacher factors accounted for 21 percent of the variance in teacher efficacy (TE). The influence of within-teacher factors on TE was moderated…

Analysis of the academic achievement of 71 business administration graduates indicated that scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are more significant predictors of graduate performance than undergraduate performance is. The relationship between graduate performance and GMAT score differs for black students and white students.…

Surveyed Israeli teachers to determine whether diversity related burnout was empirically distinguishable from general teacher burnout and explore the extent to which diversity related burnout was predicted by variables related to school cultural heterogeneity, organizational culture, and teacher background and attitudes. Diversity related burnout…

Examines the effects of negative affect on adolescent alcohol use among non-Hispanic White and Mexican American 9-12th grade students. Results indicate that unique components of negative affect relate to adolescent alcohol use in different patterns across different groups of youth. However, the small magnitude of these effects calls into question…

In a study of 66 in-utero drug exposed (IUDE) infants, evaluated infant cognitive status, caregiver-infant interaction, and caregiver cognitive functioning (IQ) to determine which caregiver variables were associated with infant cognitive status. Analysis indicated that caregiver IQ was the only statistically significant coefficient in the model…

Examines polydrug use among adolescents residing in an inner-city region by Hispanic ethnicity (Puerto Rican versus Dominican) and gender. Results indicate that in the first year of middle school, gender moderated the effect of Hispanic ethnicity on lifetime polydrug use. Concludes that both Hispanic ethnicity and gender mattered in determining…