A mail survey about the use of instruments in 9 assessment areas was answered by 389 school psychologists. Comparison with a similar survey 10 years earlier suggests no decline in assessment overall, although emphasis is switching away from intelligence testing, toward achievement testing, behavior rating, and adaptive measurements. (SLD)

Examined association between risk factors and alcohol use among young rural adolescents (n=463). Found family relations, family structure, marks in school, participation in academic activities, frequency of church attendance, and deviant behavior significantly associated with alcohol use two years later. No gender or age differences were found in…

Presents a lesson designed to help students identify components of justice and discern issues of justice and injustice in daily life. Includes background information and preparation, an activity preparation phase, and an application phase in which five role-playing scenarios are used. (CFR)

Reported stressors and patterns of coping strategies of 484 high school students were studied through their responses on the COPE Inventory and other measures. Results support the measure's internal consistency but suggest significant gender differences and four factors among the subscales. Implications for the instruments' use with adolescents…

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses compared age-related changes in adaptive functioning in institutionalized adults with and without Down's syndrome. Cross-sectional analysis showed significant differences related to level of functioning but not to age or etiology. Longitudinal analysis showed a decline in self-help and communication skills…

Play-skills training, provided to eight Zambian elementary children with intellectual disabilities, resulted in more substantial increases in interaction between subjects and nondisabled children when coupled with teacher prompts, compared to training alone. Having a nondisabled child take the initiator role increased and maintained social…

Using accelerating exclusion rates from one British local education authority shows that some children--particularly certain adolescents--are becoming scapegoats of systemic failure. By being excluded, these children are deprived of their rights to education and proper attention to their emotional and behavioral needs. Responsible parties must…

Examines the response made by San Antonio (Texas) public schools to school violence and discusses the competing disciplinary views offered to address the problems. The author distinguishes between rhetorical and actual efforts to solve community problems in urban areas that surround urban schools and argues for mediation as a theory of social…

Findings indicated that high school and college students who drank frequently were more depressed than students who drank less often. However, frequent drinkers recorded higher self-esteem scores than less-frequent drinkers, contrary to findings in other studies. (RJM)

Examined the connection between adolescents' expressions of negative affect and their attempts to meet the developmental task of establishing autonomy and relatedness in interactions with their parents. Longitudinal observational data and interviews of 96 adolescents and their parents revealed that difficulties establishing autonomy and…

Discusses the effect of "Nero," holding that, where a college or university rents space to a student who has simply been accused of a criminal act, it may be held liable for subsequent criminal acts by that student. Argues for a middle ground of responsibility between the doctrine of "in loco parentis" and institutional…

Examines the impact of Jean Piaget's cognitive-developmental theories on educators' views of child socialization, which argued that moral development occurred late in childhood. Notes that recent research indicates that moral and emotional development occur much earlier and that teachers and parents can have a significant influence on young…

This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the effects on students' learning, motivation, attitude, participation, and critical thinking when prediction activities were used in teaching genetic concepts in high school biology. The prediction activities enhanced students' critical analysis, interest, and participation.…

Study compared academic performance in eighth graders from natural parent families and single-parent and parent-stepparent families. National Educational Longitudinal Study data indicated the effects of alternative family structures were strong and consistent but reduced or eliminated for single-mother families when controlling for race and…

Researchers believe an ecological perspective that considers multiple factors as impacting delinquent behavior is important, and early intervention can effectively reduce delinquency. Four studies have shown reduced delinquency in children receiving early intervention services. The article examines several perspectives and suggests children must…