Causal explanations offered by the client, consultee, and consultant in a typical unsuccessful consultation are explored in the context of attribution theory and research. Biased attributions are discussed in terms of a cognitive-perceptual framework rather than the traditional motivation-based "defensiveness" framework. (Author/PN)

Behavioral techniques along with a self-regulation methodology were used successfully to decrease encopretic behaviors in a 9-year-old male. Kanfer's self-regulatory model appears to be generalizable to any child with the cognitive ability to understand that he or she has a problem and to make decisions about treatment. (Author/PN)

School psychology is concerned with applying psychology to education and is commensurate with goals of professional psychology education. It should be considered a doctoral profession or specialty, fulfilling emphasis on an educational orientation (rather than on mental health), and greater reliance on educational psychology. (Author/AOS)

Since the early 1960s, Project Follow Through has used psychologists to develop effective educational models for economically disadvantaged children. The successful utilization of psychologists has implications for two central issues: roles for such professionals in social intervention research, and future uses of planned variation and sponsorship…

The early influences on and development of Jean Piaget's thinking from which crystallized the ideas forming the foundation of his subsequent work are discussed. The influences noted are personal, intellectual, and professional. (MSE)

Surveys state departments of education to determine present standards for continuing education of school psychologists. Of states responding 43 percent have some requirements; the majority require six semester hours of college credit within five years. The use of staff development credits includes workshops and conventions. (JAC)

Discusses concerns among school psychologists for evaluating goal attainment of their services. Describes an approach for goal-based evaluation of school psychological service departments, termed "Needs-Based Goal Attainment Scaling," that builds upon previously developed approaches to goal attainment scaling. (Author)

Examined the extent and dimensions of the process of segmentation within the family therapy movement by comparing the belief and action systems of 1000 family therapists oriented to one of three major models of family therapy. Findings depicted a unique patterning of similarities and differences among the three models. (Author)

Based on the past, future concerns of school psychologists will be internal professional interests to the exclusion of the larger social concerns. With the past as a warning, there is a chance to overcome provincialism, favoring more interactions with educators, policymakers, and consumers of school psychology services. (Author/GK)

Discusses results of a survey to determine whether school psychologists have experienced prejudice or discrimination with respect to ethnicity, gender, age and sexual orientation in salary, tenure, publication and grant productivity; or have engaged in legal or legislative activity around existing prejudice. Results find no bias. Suggests further…

School psychologists must be aware of the influence of sociocultural and linguistic variables on the acquisition of reading skills when assessing reading problems in children from bilingual populations. Although the article deals primarily with Spanish speaking children, many of the considerations also apply to other minority language groups.…

Discusses the stress and frustrations that human service professionals face in dealing, within bureaucratic constraints, with people in trouble. (GC)

Surveyed psychologists serving secondary schools regarding actual and preferred patterns of service and training. Respondents indicated little specialized training for working with the secondary school population. Traditional assessment and report writing activities occupied the main portion of respondents' working time. Over 60 percent planned a…

Current ferment in the field of special education reflects the underlying pathology of the educational enterprise. Black special educators are in a strategic position to assert Black demands for philosophical and pedagogical changes. (ST)

Describes a model of delivery of services that enables school psychologists to meet testing demands while initiating a broad range of consultative services. The model includes having available: (1) funds for contract testing, (2) conferences with teachers prior to formal referral of children, and (3) qualified contract evaluators. (Author/RC)