Examined family influences on vocational interest development. Hypothesized that parents with similar interests were more likely to have adolescents who also developed those interests than were parents whose interests were very divergent. To "unconfound" genetic and environmental influences, parent-child interest difference scores were compared…

Describes the most easily achieved and most difficult to achieve aspects of the model, along with what was possible only for some schools, and what was most disillusioning to the leaders. (IRT)

A survey of 56 small/medium-sized Irish enterprises showed that 46% were highly proficient in electronic commerce, 42% were at the basic level. Media pressure significantly influenced adoption. In 40% of firms, owner-managers were the driving force. E-commerce was not yet business critical and relevant training was not yet a comprehensive…

This editorial critiques legislation as social intervention, focusing on Florida's new law requiring birth mothers to place legal notices about some of the circumstances surrounding the child's conception and adoption in the newspaper of the community where the baby was conceived. The intended and unintended consequences of such legislation are…

Twenty-one college textbooks and 16 readers in the sociology of the family and marriage and the family were examined for their treatment of adoption. A content analysis showed that little attention was devoted to adoption and that the coverage provided was predominantly negative, stressing the potential problems of adoption about twice as often as…

Describes some advantages of the early adoption of wireless, laptop, and personal digital assistant (PDA) technology. Provides examples of early adoption experiences in several school districts. Advantages include increased computer access, timesavings, and expanded curricular offerings. Also highlights potential cost savings involving, for…

A total of 59 women who relinquished children for adoption were surveyed concerning their demographic characteristics, attitudes about adoption, and experience of grief. Results suggest that the method of adoption used is a significant factor in the grief experienced by biological mothers. (BG)

A study addressed the issue of farmers failing to see the relevance of research and researchers being frustrated by slow adoption of their findings. Interviews with 30 Queensland (Australia) farmers showed that their understanding of the topics was poor because the farmers saw no need for the information. (Author/JOW)

Examined reunions between 170 birth parents and their children who were placed for adoption. Found similarities between groups of birth parents who had searched for their children and those who had not, including age at which they had surrendered their children and how they felt about their decision. Found birthparents felt reunions led to a sense…

Students (N=225) from three different facilities diagnosed as learning disabled were studied to determine the frequency of adoption with this population as compared to the national norm. The frequency of adoption was found to be 4.5 times higher than the norm, that is, 17.3 percent versus 3.9 percent. Possible reasons are discussed. (Author)

Discusses the role of adoption services within the wider context of children's services, and examines the reasons why adoption, having once achieved a position at the pinnacle of the available child placement options, now seems to be a placement option fundamentally out of step with other initiatives for child welfare services. (TJQ)

An agricultural innovation (nitrogen testing) had been used by 127 of a sample of 220 farmers. Adoption of the technique was influenced by information and change agents' attitudes. Adopters were also motivated by cost savings. Both adopters and nonadopters either did not have or use soil sampling skills needed to perform the test correctly.…

Presents and demonstrates three new concepts in innovation diffusion: the attribution matrix, the innovation profile, and the potential for adoption rating that determines which among similar innovations is most likely to be adopted. This predictive model represents a means of conducting formative evaluation research about the potential for…

Field theory is interactional. It asserts that genetic predispositions, acquired characteristics, uniqueness, and behaviors of individual impact are affected by events and people in environment. This can be seen clearly in development of children who join family rather than being born into it. Resulting complexities can be seen in family therapy…