Summarizes the contents of this special issue, discussing the major themes and issues addressed in the articles. Covers the following topics: (1) research agenda; (2) nature-nurture question; (3) knowledge base on child development; (4) societal changes; and (5) societal multiculturalism. (Author/BJV)

Provides the structural framework for the theory-derived steady state approach, an emic (within-culture) research approach for certain fields of psychology to be applied to African-Americans and, when adjusted, to all persons of African descent. (BJV)

Reviews research on the theory of internal-external (IE) control expectancies over the past 30 years. Relates the IE to the following current attributions and personal styles: (1) perceived control; (2) helplessness; and (3) optimism, particularly in regard to health. (FMW)

Surveys recent feminist research on gender differences in social and psychological development, and shows how this research and theory may be used in examining student writing, thus suggesting directions that a feminist investigation of composition might take. (SR)

The paucity of citations of Torsten Husen writings is an example of cultural ethnocentrism and academic imperialism in U.S. educational and psychological research. Cross-cultural perspectives, interdisciplinary analyses, and global learning are proposed as methods of overcoming the methodological parochialism, overspecialization, and international…

Reviews the evolution of research over the past 25 years on sexual orientation and its effects on human development, concluding that gay and lesbian interests and behavior appear to result from a complex interplay of genetic, prenatal, and environmental influences. Notes that gender identity develops early, especially for males, and is difficult…

Reviews the controversy surrounding the work of Cyril Burt on the genetic contribution to mental ability and argues that the disparagement of Burt's results provides one of the most extraordinary cases of counterfeit charges in academic psychology. Suggesting genetic differences in brain size or intellect is politically incorrect. (SLD)

The posthumous condemnation of Cyril Burt destroyed his reputation and undermined his life's work on the genetic nature of differences in intelligence. Whether Burt falsified research findings or not, the real significance of the affair lies in what it teaches about scientific methodology and the fallibility of personal judgments. (SLD)

Discusses the effects of parental depression and distress on children, focusing on the interaction of parent and child age and gender on such behaviors. Also considers the need for studies on the precise functional effects of intrafamilial processes that contribute to the intergenerational transmission of depression. (MDM)

Reexamines a 49-year-old study of P technique applied to a psychotherapy patient with a recurrent physical symptom. Explores dimensions of psychotherapeutic change as well as the context for the recurrent symptom. Illustrates the contributions from applying the P technique to psychotherapy research, to psychosomatic medicine, and to personality…

This article discusses preparation of research reports in light of how the information is likely to be evaluated and how the report contributes to the research process. The focus is on description, explanation, and contextualization of the study. Common issues related to interpretation of assessment studies are also highlighted. (SLD)

Argues that research's production of knowledge is not set apart from society, but is embedded in it. The article calls for efforts to uncover the ways in which psychological knowledge is shaped by ongoing societal struggles and cultural politics. (GR)

Discusses development and use of an instrument for assessing introductory psychology students' perceptions of success in the course. Reports that perceptions were ranked and analyzed for motivational orientation. Reveals the discovery of primarily intrinsic orientation for highest ranked perceptions and extrinsic orientation for lowest rated ones.…

Sensitive topics raise issues of ethics, politics, and legal aspects of research. There is concern for participants' rights and groups who may be affected by research. Notes that some argue research funding tends to serve the interests of the powerful by excluding support for research on issues detrimental to their interests. (NL)

Examines the relationship of field differences to LOGO performance among Black and White Zimbabwean schoolgirls. Finds field independence and performance were related among both groups and remained significant when the intelligence variant was eliminated. Suggests field differentiation is an important concomitant of LOGO competence and simply not…