Deaths from meningitis-type illnesses among college students are worrying health officials. Concerns include behaviors of students that may put students at risk, risk characteristics of dormitory housing, ethical concerns about disclosing the names of infected students, and possible need for immunization programs. (MSE)

Examined the role of individual characteristics and peer influences in evoking early substance abuse in young boys. Individual characteristics, such as fighting, hyperactivity, oppositional behaviors, and likability, were found to be pivotal in the development of substance abuse--more than friends' deviance. Results suggest that prevention…

Presents data that establish the convergent and discriminant construct validity of a new behavior-rating scale for use with the early childhood-preschool population, the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS). The scale appears to show promise as a research tool, screening device, and assessment instrument for assessing social-emotional…

The Test of Reactions and Adaptation in College (TRAC), a measure of students' personal dispositions toward learning, is presented. Results from 2 different samples of college students (n=1,081) indicate acceptable psychometric characteristics for the TRAC. The TRAC predicted college success better than high school weighted academic average did.…

A study investigated study habits of 154 educationally disadvantaged engineering students enrolled in developmental studies programs in 3 South African universities. Aspects examined include entry skills, study patterns throughout the first year, and characteristics of students whose study habits changed over time. Implications for admission and…

Comparison of 29 children prenatally exposed to drugs and 20 children without such exposure in preschool special education programs in New York City found the groups differed in mood, attachment, aggression, attention, movement level, organization and level of play, language usage, anger, and unoccupied behavior. Great variability was found in the…

In a study of differences in frequency of interruptions, aspects of dominant-submissive sex role behavior in preschool children and their teachers during conversation were examined. Boys interrupted teachers more than girls did, and teachers interrupted girls more than they did boys. (LB)

A study of student/teacher interaction patterns in 11 Austrian grammar school mathematics classes was conducted to examine gender-specific classroom management methods. Results indicated no gender differences, but five types of gender-related modifications of the ordinary interaction patterns are identified that produce greater success for boys.…

The ability of investment theory to account for intent and behavior of 421 part-time, working community-college students concerning departure from or persistence at college was studied. The contribution of investment to institutional persistence, and a framework for the departure decision process among nontraditional college students are…

Findings from two studies of middle to late adulthood indicate that elderly people are effective in maintaining a sense of control and a positive view of self and personal development. Argues that the resiliency of the elderly hinges on the interplay between activities that alleviate developmental losses and accommodative processes by which…

Issues in sexual harassment are discussed, including definitions, the experience of harassment, related behavior patterns, prevalence, beliefs, tolerance, and current research. The efforts and impact of a group of female faculty, staff, and graduate students (Women against Sexual Harassment) at the University of Rhode Island are described. (MSE)

Surveys of 70 male and 80 female community college students about their attitudes toward abortion, sexual behavior, and life problems support abortion rights. Antiabortion students were more religious, less sexually active, and less likely to know someone who had an abortion. Many students currently experienced serious problems. (SLD)

Professionals frequently are least able to learn because they have rarely experienced learning-related failure and are prone to defensive reasoning. Companies can become learning organizations by helping managers and employees learn to analyze their behavior and learn productively. (SK)

Examines the extent to which the effect of gender of a target person on evaluators' judgments reflects evaluators' tendencies not to use the evaluee's gender because they assume case information is more valuable. Results with 144 female and 92 male college students in 2 studies demonstrate that evaluators do use gender stereotypes. (SLD)

Evaluation of Energy Source Education Program investigated effects on energy-related knowledge, attitudes, and conservation behaviors of 1,349 sixth graders in 15 schools who had participated in the program since kindergarten. Function-specific assessment instrument, Energy Biographer Assessment Test, was specially developed for this purpose.…