The effect of a program to develop knowledge and skills for self-determination in adolescents with autism was examined through students' in-class contributions and through pre-post interviews with 23 adolescents and parents. Following the program, students initiated more discussion and used a number of skills and concepts in other settings.…

Three institutions of higher education piloted peer tutoring/guidance arrangements. Results suggest that students have an enhanced role to play in a renegotiated tutor-student relationship. Uses the darkness metaphor to convey the transition students undergo as they move from their early university days toward a more enlightened position.…

Gender and lowest stage of cognitive development were found to significantly contribute to the variance in lower levels of white racial identity in a study of white counselor trainees (N=82). Significant relationships were not found between the higher stages of cognitive development and higher levels of white racial identity. Examines gender…

Interviews male and female primary-health-care patients aged 66 to 83 years (N=14) in regard to their fears in connection with their present symptoms and in general. Results show that diseases believed to entail disability, bodily changes, and/or loss of control over body and environment were the most feared. (Author/MKA)

Introduces the conceptual background of a model of youth development that utilizes the principles of the Native-American Circle of Courage. Discusses the four principles of the Circle of Courage: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. Discusses the development of the model and the life of the artist who developed that artwork for the…

Investigated value priorities and autonomy expectations in 59 pairs of Caucasian and 66 pairs of Asian teenagers and their mothers in Hong Kong. Findings support models that predict persistent family interdependence despite adoption of many individualist values in modernizing collectivist cultures. (SLD)

Provides strategies for reducing the risk of youth retreating into depression when faced with adversities in life, by helping them develop the building blocks of resilience (trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, identity). Reports that these building blocks have proven effective in fostering and strengthening resilience. (Author/JDM)

Presents a theoretical framework that classifies autonomy as procedural/technical, personal/practical, or critical. Discusses sociocultural barriers to learning motivation and identifies which assessment practices foster which type of autonomy. (Contains 71 references.) (SK)

Undertakes research into tension between structural planning and individual autonomy in the teaching of English and the dynamics of English departmental work in secondary schools. Examines the nature of constraints to individuals' autonomy, such as the British National Curriculum, to arrive at tentative conclusions as to whether they constitute a…

A study collected data on the quality of life and self-determination of 50 individuals with mental retardation to examine the contribution of self-determination to quality of life and the relationship between these constructs. Participants who reported a higher quality of life were also identified as more self-determined. (Author/CR)

Describes the development of the Georgia Autonomy Scales, an instrument used by student affairs professionals to assess the level of autonomy development of students. Estimates of the instrument's reliability and validity were judged sufficiently high to permit use with groups of students. (MKA)

Examines the difference between undergraduate students who self-reported a high incidence of bulimic-type behaviors and those students who reported a low incidence of bulimic type behaviors. Results show that females exhibiting bulimic behaviors tend to fuse with their families and lack personal authority, whereas males indicated fusion and…

A study of eight adults who use dog guides found four themes that described the experience of using a dog guide: increased confidence, increased independence, changed public interactions, and additional responsibilities or inconveniences. Most participants described their dogs as social "ice breakers" that led to increased interaction…

Examines the relationship between rhetorical traditions and philosophical inquiry about liberty. Argues that rhetoric matters: how people talk about the state sets the limits within which it works. (TB)

Reviews curricular approaches available to postsecondary teachers in New Zealand within a climate of accountability and autonomy. Concludes that the extent of institutional and personal autonomy varies among institutions and teachers and recommends more professional development. (Contains 41 references.) (SK)