Study explores high school completion among African Americans. Students completed a theory of planned behavior questionnaire early in their 2nd year. Intentions to complete the year were accurately predicted from attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Intentions and, to a lesser extent, perceived behavioral control,…

Reviews the literature concerning play theories. Classifies play theories into three categories: classical theories, early twentieth century theories, and recent theories. Theories discussed include psychoanalytic, cognitive development, arousal, communication, and adaptive plasticity. (RJC)

Bateson's integrative multilevel approach to learning, which is based on a theory of communication, is discussed. Implications of Bateson's learning theory for a more integrated approach to behavioral change are considered. (IAH)

Describes a theory of reinterpretation assessment that explores the relationship between second-guessing and the use of social information-gathering tactics. Tests four principles on which this theory is based, concerning the effects of motivational, cognitive, and practical antecedents on the tactics employed by social actors to improve…

Develops models for participants' behaviors in games, simulations, and workshops based on Catastrophe Theory and Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation. Examples are given of how these models can be used, both for describing and understanding the behaviors of individuals, and for eliciting insights into why participants behave as they do. (11…

Examined differences in hypothetical apperceptive fantasies of committing forcible rape, which are held by male subjects, as compared with the hypothetical apperceptive fantasies of being forcibly raped, held by the female subjects. Developed a critical analysis of social and cross-cultural variables affecting rape. (Author/ABL)

Reviews socio-psychological theories regarding human motivation in adventure education. A synthesis of these theories produces a model of participant behavior based on combinations of varying degrees of perceived risk and competence, and resulting outcomes. Includes suggestions for modifying experiences so that all participants can achieve…

Extends control systems theory to analyze purposive collective behaviors, ranging from simple to complex, involving small and large groups. Suggests that complex collective phenomena can be explained as the repetition or combination of individual and collective sequences of action. Posits that control systems theory can be used to elucidate…

Describes the Giffen effect: demand for a commodity increases as price increases. Explains how applying control theory eliminates the paradox that the Giffen effect presents to classic economics supply and demand theory. Notes the differences in how conventional demand theory and control theory treat consumer behavior. (CH)

Discusses the conventional theory of free riding as discussed in economic textbooks. Argues the theory is empirically invalid, and reviews various scholarly viewpoints on this issue. Suggests alternatives to teaching current economic theory and argues that the concept of self-interest neglects the ethical issues in behavior. (NL)

Data analysis from a sample of 685 responses to the Quality of Employment Survey found that stress from job constraints increases strain regardless of the level of social support. The buffer hypothesis was supported by the finding that stress caused by workload and conflict are dependent on the level of managerial and co-worker support. (SK)

Practitioners of applied behavior analysis need to create a model for developing and evaluating behavioral technology consistent with the approach of other natural sciences. The model should focus on developing an experimental literature that is comprehensive in both its attempt to understand target behaviors and its search for the how and why of…

To measure Theory of Work Adjustment personality and adjustment style dimensions, content-based scales were analyzed for homogeneity and successively reanalyzed for reliability improvement. Three sound scales were developed: inflexibility, activeness, and reactiveness. (SK)

Examines some of the recent developments in cognitive theory and explores their implications for instructional design. Topics discussed include a shift from emphasis on behavioral theory to cognitive theory; task analysis; instructional objectives; learner characteristics; instructional strategies; metacognition; and the dynamic nature of…

The latent structure of a four-item problem-behavior syndrome (from Problem-Behavior Theory) was replicated for 2,250 American Indian adolescents. With inclusion of multiple indicators of problem behaviors, a single factor no longer provided satisfactory fit. With addition of multiple indicators of conventional behavior, a second-order latent…