This study is based on Locke's (1968) hypothesis that individuals will spontaneously set performance goals when feedback is related to a standard of performance. The study tests Locke's proposal in an actual work setting by comparing the performance rate of keystroke operators who received feedback and a standard with that of a control group who…

Peer modeling as a non-punitive disciplinary technique was examined in two studies assessing its effectiveness in increasing self-control of young children in the absence of an authority figure. The first study investigated the effect of observing the rule-following behavior of a peer model on the observing child's subsequent self-control.…

Both criterion-referenced testing and behavioral assessment share the basic assumption that test behavior is a sample rather than a sign. In addition, both types of assessment focus on response capabilities and performance in specified content domains. Although content validity has been traditionally recognized as essential to criterion-referenced…

This report examines the use of leisure time in North America. Some conclusions are as follows. Situational factors of association, frequency, location, and scheduling were found more highly correlated with the kinds of leisure chosen by adults than either census-data or immediate community variables. The type of activity is one significant…

Groups exist in a time environment. The group develops, changes, may function for years, and eventually disbands. The theory of groups across time is in a different psychological domain than that of short-term groups. For example, in long-term groups changes in group membership are inevitable whereas in short-term groups these changes are rarely…

The problem-solving performance of young boys and girls was examined in three conditions in which good performance was indicated as being appropriate for boys, for girls, or for both boys and girls. The relations between task scores and five sex-role measures were also examined. As predicted, the boys performed significantly poorer when the task…

This handbook offers a comprehensive review of the social and psychological problems of child abuse and the role of the schools and community agencies in dealing with the problem. Sections elaborate the historical perspective, legal problems of definition and legislation, incidence and etiology of abuse. Identification by the school, reporting,…

The purpose of these companion studies was to assess immediate and delayed effects of social modeling, cognitive structuring, and two self-management strategies for increasing affective self-disclosure in undergraduate males. Subjects were randomly assigned to: (a) social modeling, (b) cognitive structuring, (c) attention-placebo, or (d)…

This investigation was designed to ascertain the relationship between alienation and specified forms of drug use in three differing collegiate settings. The results indicated that, contrary to many subjective judgements, there was essentially no significant relationship between students' degree of alienation and their use of drugs. (Author)

Picture Identification Test scores of 188 college women who participated in several extracurricular activities were compared with those who participated less. Results suggested that women who took part in no activities were more concerned about avoiding failure than more active women and preferred to stay out of extracurricular activities. (Author)

Explains a study designed to consider the influence of positive and negative affect induced by cognitive mediation on behaviors thought to reflect depression. Concludes that results show fairly strong support for Velten's (1968) methodology and suggest that affect can be manipulated in the laboratory. (Author/EJT)

Suggests a way for teachers to organize their observations of children into valid, reliable, nonjudgmental descriptions in order to help an assessment team diagnose special problems. Gives guideline questions concerning visual, motor, social-emotional and other behaviors that can alert teachers to inconsistent development in young children. (BRT)

Attempts to determine the degree to which communication may be viewed as structured sequences of behavior. Includes an analysis of discussion groups, teacher classroom behavior, speech therapy sessions and police-civilian telephone calls. See CS 703 503 for availability information. (MH)

A pilot project was undertaken with 27 educable mentally handicapped children (9- to 12-years-old) to see if retardates could learn adaptive behavioral responses and an awareness of the consequences of behavior as a result of a sequential instructional program. (GW)

Reviews the theory and research on the physiological or genetic origins of parenting behavior, noting that an ethological or evolutionary analysis of parenting behavior supports the idea that primates, including man, have evolved psychological structures which are particularly adapted to respond to cues from young children. (Author/JM)