Trained observers visited classrooms taught by university lecturers receiving either low, medium, or high student ratings. The observers estimated the frequency of occurrence of 60 specific, low-inference teaching behaviors. Significant differences were found for 26 individual behaviors. Three factors (clarity, enthusiasm, and rapport) differed…

Evaluated the Primary Mental Health Project (PMHP), a school-based mental health program for the early detection and prevention of school-adjustment problems. Assessed the PMHP's effectiveness by evaluating seven consecutive annual cohorts of children. Results strongly and consistently showed that children seen through the PMHP were judged to have…

Describes the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale for Adolescents (MARS-A). Discusses psychometric data that relate to reliability and construct validity of the MARS-A scale. Results showed the association between high mathematics anxiety scale scores and low grade average in mathematics courses reported on two samples of students. (Author/JAC)

Describes development of a new rating scale for use by teachers. The Prosocial Behaviour Questionnaire is designed for use in the investigation of elementary school children's behavior. A copy of the rating scale is included. (Author/DB)

A total of 482 third- and fourth-year medical students were rated over four-week periods, by multiple raters, house officers, and attending faculty, on 15 behavior rating scales. The data were factor analyzed, revealing two consistently appearing factors: interpersonal skills and problem solving. (Author/GDC)

Identifies characteristics of successful courtroom speech for prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and accuseds using computer-based content analysis and rater judgments of verbal behaviors. Demonstrates that verbal aggression is an important factor for successful prosecutors, equivocation is important to success for defense attorneys, and…

Traditionally research into the effects of teacher behaviors on learning outcomes has involved direct observational techniques. This paper departs from tradition and describes the initial development and use of a new instrument measuring student perceptions of numerous key teaching behaviors. (RL)

Male pupils identified as behaviorally disordered (N=153), learning disabled (N=172), and educable mentally retarded (N=176) as well as nonidentified normal boys (6 to 18 years old) were rated by their teachers on the Behavior Problem Checklist. (Author)

A study compared the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI) for assessing the maladaptive behavior of 226 adults, mostly with severe or profound mental retardation. Individuals with elevated BPI scores generally had higher ABC scores, however, the extent of covariation differed across subscales. (Contains…

Compared teacher and observer ratings of young children's social behaviors during peer play and examined the construct validity of the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale. Findings indicated that both teacher and observer ratings revealed factor structures reflecting play interaction, disruption, and disconnection. Observer ratings distinguished…

The reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale in the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders are reviewed. While the measure holds promise as a research tool, there appears little evidence that it can distinguish among the variety of types of pervasive developmental disorders, or diagnose Asperger…

Forty-nine day care center teachers rated the importance of certain behaviors/skills in the successful performance of handicapped young children in day care. Communication skills were rated as the most important, followed in order by independence, social interaction, compliance to rules/routines, and preacademic skills. (JDD)

Four papers offer comments on A. Silverstein's paper on cluster analysis of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals, and Silverstein responds to the commentaries. The commentaries examine the soundness of study goals, usefulness of an adaptive behavior classification system, and feasibility of utilizing adaptive behavior measures to…

The social status of 1,053 middle-school students was investigated. Students with learning disabilities received lower scores on teacher rating scales and a self-rating questionnaire, and received more negative and fewer positive votes on a peer survey. For all students, attractiveness and athletic ability highly correlated with positive peer…