Principals as street-level bureaucrats often bend central-office directives when implementing policies to fit their own values and goals. This article examines principals' use of creative insubordination and their professional beliefs about discretion, perceptions of role conflict, and locus of control. Veteran principals valuing on-the-job…

This article presents a model to evaluate the imagination and creativity of strategic planners. Characteristics recommended for strategic planners include the cognitive styles of extroverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceptive; marginal personality orientation, which allows for an open-minded viewpoint with integrative skills; internal locus of…

Comparison of 88 expert teachers and 92 other teachers indicated that superior teachers prefer democratic, flexible climate, nonmoralistic attitudes, and close personal relationships with students. The caring element of teacher belief is the essential link in the classroom chain of teacher behavior, student belief, student behavior, and student…

Examined attitudes of 923 high school students from 3 economic settings toward work in 3 Canadian labor markets. Found significant differences for both group and gender on the variables attitude toward training for new technology, belief in work, and job security. For self-efficacy and locus of control, significant gender differences were found.…

A study examined the relationship of psychosocial variables (self-efficacy, coping, locus of control, and social support) and attendance at a hospital-sponsored smoking cessation program with smoking cessation. Questionnaires and interviews with participants indicated self-efficacy and number of classes attended related to smoking cessation. (SM)

Examined hypothesis that sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education, race, and gender would be predictive of Multidimensional Health Locus of Control subscale scores in 342 community-dwelling elderly individuals. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between black race, lower socioeconomic status, and lower education on Chance and…

Sees risk/resilience research providing transition for professionals in field of emotional/behavioral problems, moving from management of existing problems to addressing risk factors before problems arise. Identifies recurring themes from studies of resilient children/adolescents, describes protective factors related to resilience, and offers…

The 1986 internal/external frame of reference model of H. W. Marsh was tested using self-concept and self-efficacy responses of 410 Australian fifth grade students. Support for the model was found only for self-concept responses. Results are discussed in relation to academic self-concept. (SLD)

Compares advantages and disadvantages of centralized and decentralized control in Soviet public schools. Recognizes that centralization concentrates the forces, funds, and available resources necessary for maximum achievement. Suggests that decentralization of administration can be optimized by delegating rights, duties, and responsibilities to…

Mothers of toddlers and preschoolers reported rules for everyday behaviors and noted their child's level of compliance. Results showed (1) commonalities among mothers in the network of rules being socialized; (2) high child compliance in situations involving rules for safety and other's possessions; and (3) an age-related movement from external…

Considers debate in field of marriage and family therapy regarding issues of control and noninstrumentality. Contends that therapists must be able to act unconstrictingly yet must take responsibility for their actions. Asserts that believing too strongly in either strategizing or nonintervening in therapeutic process can be constraining. Offers…

This study, involving 49 teachers and 1,164 students, found that teachers tend to feel responsible for the academic successes of their students and to attribute their failures to external factors. Teachers with a high or medium rating on sense of responsibility exhibited more significantly positive attitudes toward their students. (Author/JDD)

African-American adolescents (n=195) completed measures on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, condoms, health locus of control, vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus, peer sexual norms, sexual behavior, and contraceptive preferences. Girls were more knowledgeable about AIDS, reported fewer sexual partners, held more…

Assessed academic locus of control, self-esteem, and geographical distance from home (actual and perceived) as predictors of college adjustment in 88 female college freshmen. An internal academic locus of control, a high level of self-esteem, and a perception that the distance from home was "just right" were related to four dimensions of college…

Examined proposition that variations in career decision making are related to identity formation process by identifying relations between ego identity statuses and decision making in college students (N=99). Findings support proposition and suggest stable identity persons use rational and systematic decision-making strategies, foreclosed identity…