Many psychological theories point to the importance of siblings in individual personality development. The impact of sibling status on interpersonal and achievement orientation was examined with undergraduates (N=1782) who completed a series of objective personality measures and a background questionnaire. Sibling status was defined in terms of…

The basis for most problems with merit pay plans is that the great majority of employees believe their own job performance is above average. Even a well-administered merit pay plan cannot give positive feedback to this majority. The likely consequence is that the employee's self-esteem is threatened. Often one copes with such a threat by demeaning…

Junior high schools boys performed forty trials on a ball roll up game in order to determine whether competition, initial ability level, and social reinforcement interact to influence the performance of a perceptual motor task. The analysis of the data demonstrated: (a) the competition, initial ability level, and social reinforcement factors did…

A review of the research literature concerning the effects of cooperation and competition on small-group productivity suggests that results have been conflicting and inconclusive. From a methodological standpoint, the inconsistent finings result from the use of experimental tasks which create systematic bias in favor of either the cooperative or…

In 1973, the Polish Minister of Education ordered objective competitions at the primary school level in the fields of Polish studies, Russian language, and math. In order to determine whether such subject competitions were justified and if they contributed equally to the development of interests and abilities among the rural and urban and…

Presented is the final report of a project to increase academic performance and social interaction in 52 retarded or normal children (3-18 years old) through training teachers in the use of three social skills: exchange, competition, and cooperation. The following project objectives are discussed: operational identification of the three social…

Governors, state legislators, and other state leaders have high expectations for public colleges and universities, specifically, advancing the state's economic agenda. The 1988 Presidential campaign is expected to focus on education prompted by concern about lagging competitiveness in international trade. (MLW)

Declines in the United States' competitive status in the world show that the nation needs a better educated, more creative, more flexible work force. Undergraduate education has an essential role to play in preparing students for both work and citizenship, requiring new collaboration between state, education, and community leaders. (MSE)

The economic case for the deregulation of Australian universities, for reasons of efficiency and improved access, is presented and the economic and social implications of such a move are considered. Some discussion of the case against deregulation is also given. (MSE)

Despite their eroding fiscal positions, state governments are responsible for establishing budget policy for both public elementary/secondary and higher education. As a Utah case study shows, the current political structure creates pressures for both competition and cooperation in optimizing scarce resources. This study advocates limited…

Understanding the issues involved in the diversifications of missions and functions in higher education requires (1) distinguishing between vertical and horizontal diversification, either between or within institutions and (2) identifying the agents and mechanisms causing diversification within different higher education systems, including both…

Investigated the influence of dominance and friendship on behavior in a cooperative/competitive problem-solving situation among preschool peers. Mixture of quasi-agonistic and opportunistic behaviors led to high resource use; agonistic behaviors were infrequent and unrelated to resource use. (Author/RWB)

Although three curriculum-delivery systems which use terminals to download curriculum software from a super microcomputer offer advantages of individualized instruction over several grade levels with individual student progress reports and updated software, the expense of the initial installation makes it difficult for them to compete with…

Analyzes and compares Japanese and American industrial policy and labor practices. Proposes that certain aspects of the Japanese system be adapted by American businesses for purpose of increasing international competitiveness. Proposes specific actions and plans for both the Japanese and American systems. (ML)

A team of faculty and advanced graduate students from Boston College developed a new educational partnership with labor unions to help combat problems of industrial dislocation and upheaval. The group worked with five different union locals experiencing serious problems associated with foreign competition and new technology. (CH)