Explores the relationship between urban executive officers and their political environments, first by reporting on how three types of these officers perceive their policy influence upon their urban legislatures and then by developing a paradigm of conflict management in the urban context to explore opportunities for research into social change and…

Superintendents need to recognize the two realities that the school board has the ultimate power and that superintendents are appointed to serve a specific term. Offers six remedies to superintendents in the case of real conflict with the school board. (MLF)

A technique used in college instruction to improve the contribution of individual members to a small working group of students is described. The approach addresses two common problems: (1) resolution of conflicts and (2) dealing with nonperforming group members. Students interview prospective partners and form their own groups, then report on the…

Describes a computer system being developed to support two-party negotiation to enhance students' learning in the area of dispute resolution. The concept of computer support as an important future direction in the area of conflict resolution and negotiation is discussed, and results of pilot testing of the prototype are reported. (Contains 17…

Micropolitical perspectives address the processes through which individuals and groups in an organization acquire and exercise power to promote and protect their interests. This chapter synthesizes major findings on actor roles and relationships in select formal and informal areas, concentrating on profession-patron and principal-teacher…

Schools must increasingly deal with children who brandish weapons and exhibit antisocial or violent behavior. Psychologists agree that young children are very susceptible to violence and that stored violent images can warp their interpretation of reality. To combat youth violence, many schools have adopted antiviolence curricula and conflict…

This article reviews the literature on conflict resolution skills and applies it to local interagency coordinating councils attempting to coordinate services to young children with special needs and their families. Six dimensions (climate, people, resources, agency, process, and policies) of the collaborative process are identified. (Author/DB)

Noise in the form of random errors arising from choices is a common problem. Examined three different approaches for coping with noise. Found that reciprocity works, provided it is accompanied by generosity or contrition. Changing one's choice after a poor outcome was not seen as helpful. Other points are discussed. (RJM)

Discusses play as preparation for life, and the role of aggressive play. Provides guidelines for caregivers to help children modify their aggressive play, and for working with parents to help reinforce positive, prosocial behavior in children. (HTH)

Notes five broad types of discipline problems teachers encounter in their classrooms. Provides keys to a successful discipline management program, which includes being consistent, setting standards, and keeping a sense of humor. Suggests ways to promote favorable student attitudes toward school. Includes a conflict clarification form and suggested…

The intergenerational family therapy method of genogram construction may be a useful technique for increasing levels of differentiation in clients with a lesbian sexual orientation. Provides a description, rationale, and illustration of how genogram construction may be used by family counselors to treat lesbian clients. (JBJ)

Administration of the Conflict Tactics Scales to 1,997 mothers found that risk factors included the mother's age at time of birth of the abused child, size of family, and minority group status. However, there was not a significant relationship when mother's age was measured at time of abuse. (Author/JDD)

A Canadian public higher education official comments on the use of performance indicators for evaluating and funding higher education institutions. Focus is on putting the controversy over their use into perspective by narrowing the issues and arguments, clarifying them, and acknowledging inherent limitations of performance indicators. (MSE)

Used vignettes and self-reports to examine adolescents' and mothers' reasoning about family conflicts. Found that mothers and adolescents differentially evaluated reasons for parental requests and adolescent noncompliance. They also differed in their judgments of the likelihood of particular justifications succeeding or leading to conflict. (BC)

Techniques for college teachers averting or resolving conflicts with students include examining one's own contribution to the conflict, conferring in a neutral setting, finding common ground, using cooperative learning exercises, avoiding defensiveness, talking with colleagues, integrating problem solving into lessons, and using direct…