Among 4,971 young children of mothers in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, those from the Deep South scored lowest on a measure of receptive vocabulary. Differences for girls and boys were related to regional variations in maternal race/ethnicity, but boys' differences were also partly explained by regional subculture, maternal…

School efforts to promote science learning were examined at two ethnically and linguistically diverse elementary schools (one urban and one suburban). The schools differed considerably with regard to students' prior knowledge and background, teacher and administrator attitudes toward science education and toward the capabilities of students with…

Discusses the significant, historically-rooted gender differences in equality of computer access and performance outcomes. Identifies issues to be dealt with to assure a future in which girls will succeed in technology-based education. Suggests research issues and discusses the mathematical component of computing, influence of family, gender bias…

A total of 50 children were observed at home at 33 months of age and then tested at 40 months on affective labeling, perspective taking, and false belief tasks. Individual differences at 40 months were associated with family discourse about feelings and causality at 33 months, verbal fluency of mother and child, and sibling cooperation. (BC)

The article presents guidelines for creating a thinking environment for children at home. Teachers today have little time to emphasize thinking skills, so parents must make their homes more thoughtful places by encouraging questions, open-mindedness, discussion, and practice time using simple everyday experiences to teach critical thinking and…

Current literature on status attainment and student college choice is reviewed, and a structural model of predisposition to attend college is presented. Data from 2,497 ninth graders attending 21 high schools in Indiana and their parents, analyzed using LISREL, support the model's usefulness in determining students' college choice. (SLD)

A survey of 415 undergraduate social work students and 203 non-social work students investigated the influence of selected life events and circumstances, prior employment, volunteering, and influential persons. Results indicate social work students were more likely to attribute career choice to problems such as alcoholism and emotional illness…

Analysis of four national cross-sectional fertility surveys, 1955-84, documents the decreasing likelihood that single women pregnant with their first child will marry to legitimate the birth. Among recent cohorts, decision to marry was influenced by woman's expectations about the timing of marriage and parenthood, living arrangements, academic…

One hundred Danish adolescents and 133 American adolescents were compared on various aspects of socialization and risk behavior. Overall, socialization was narrower among Danish adolescents, and rates of risk behavior were higher for American adolescents in the areas of driving and minor criminal behavior. Rates of sex without contraception were…

Discusses perceptions that sixth graders and their parents have about their relationships. Sociable children were more likely to agree with their parents about the supportiveness of the relationship than were withdrawn or aggressive children. Mothers of withdrawn or aggressive children, and fathers of aggressive children, felt less supportive than…

Among 66 rural Louisiana ninth graders, 52 percent of variability in grade point average was explained by gender, school self-esteem, self-esteem scale lie score, father's educational attainment, whether student lived with parents, number of younger siblings, and participation in extracurricular activities. (SV)

Discusses the influence of culture and family and the importance of self-esteem in the development of competency in young children. Describes the role of the teacher in creating a developmentally appropriate environment that fosters self-initiated learning and a personal locus of control. (SH)

Study explored possible correlates of both vigorous physical activity and walking for exercise in 127 middle-class, healthy adult Latinos. Questionnaire results indicate correlates of physical activity are different for Latinos than for Anglos. Important variables associated with vigorous activity are self-efficacy, friends' support, childhood…

Results of a survey of White (N=1,100) and Black (N=396) middle-class suburban high school students indicate meaningful differences in drug and alcohol sources of information. While both groups rated mass media as their best source of information, Black students more frequently cited family as a source of information and assistance. (IAH)

Reviews theories of identity formation ranging from the classic work of E. H. Erikson to postmodern and feminist theories, and incorporates qualitative research examining the identity formation of 14 adolescent girls. The article suggests that schools can serve as sites for deconstructing issues of socioeconomic status identity, body image…