The effects of success and failure on task performance, and attributions about performance, were compared for high and low instrumental college women. For the high instrumental group, success facilitated task performance, whereas failure had no debilitating effect; for the low instrumental group, success had no effect on subsequent performance,…

Compared attitudes toward alcoholism in 120 urban secondary school teachers and 105 rural secondary school teachers in Benin District, Nigeria. Results indicated that urban teachers, males, younger teachers, those with higher degrees, and unmarried teachers had less negative attitudes toward alcoholism. (JAC)

Describes three experiments that examined how children (4- to 11-year-olds) use their knowledge of the attributes of living things to infer whether particular objects are alive. (HOD)

Investigates a proposed four-stage developmental sequence that describes how children explain changes in sad and angry feelings and how their ability to understand is related to their theories of how feelings change. (HOD)

Examined the effects of personal warmth and success modeling on behavior change among females experiencing assertion deficits. Results indicated both confederate warmth and success modeling influenced the level of assertion change behavior reported by group members. Attributions for influence to effect change and change performance are discussed.…

Children were interviewed in two studies to compare the attribution patterns of those with and without learning problems. Normally achieving children in both studies followed the expected pattern of attributing success more internally and failure more externally. Learning disabled children did not follow the expected pattern for failure.…

The Mathematics Attribution Scale-Algebra (MAS) was designed to assess attributions to ability, effort, task, and environment for success or failure in algebra. The study examined the reliability and validity of the MAS with high ability high school students. Results present a complicated picture of the psychometric properties of the MAS. (Author)

Describes research concerned with the way teachers' expressions of sympathy and anger toward failing students influence students' thoughts and self-perceptions. Examines the role that causal attributions play in the understanding and experience of achievement-related affect. (CB)

This article on the research and educational implications of self-concept discusses definitions, methods, theoretical orientations, developmental conditions, correlates, changes and changeability, and pedagogical consequences of self-concept. (PN)

Examined the relationship between popularity and sexual behavior in 1,405 junior high school students. Results showed White males and females with more female friends are more likely to be sexually experienced. There was little relationship between popularity and sexuality in Black adolescents. (JAC)

Examined the similarity between subjects' (N=63) ratings of themselves and others, on various tests of personality. Results revealed that subjects correctly estimated several of their own scores, but only two scores of another person. They believed themselves to be similar to their friend, thereby showing attributional errors. (JAC)

Shows that attributions about the causes of another person's behavior are only moderately good predictors of behavior. Reviews a particular area, showing the effects of a leader's attributions about a subordinate's behavior on the leader's actions towards that subordinate. Other factors are as important in predicting behavior as attributions.…

Examined the relationship among selected ascribed and achieved traits and their relationship to occupational attainment, using a longitudinal sample of males (N=583). Data suggest that achieved and ascribed variables do not operate seperately. Residence in childhood and number of siblings had a significant effect on adult job status. (JAC)

Analyzed data on employment after marriage for a cohort of women born around 1938. Results show a decline in the propensity to follow a conventional pattern of leaving the work force due to marriage or childbirth. The double track pattern of employment during childrearing is more common. (Author/JAC)

Examined data on change in divorce rates in the Old West region where growth is occurring due to energy development. Multiple regression results indicated new immigration had little effect on change in the divorce rate. A more open perspective on social organization and change in rural communities is needed. (Author/JAC)