Purpose: The aim of this work is to examine the relationship between aspects of objective and perceived housing and aspects of healthy aging, defined as independence in daily activities and subjective well-being. Furthermore, this research examined the comparability of relationships between housing and healthy aging in the five European countries.…

The paper presents a study investigating the net-based learner autonomy of the first-year non-English major students studying in West Anhui University (WAHU). Through questionnaires and interviews, the study shows the problems in learner autonomy and presents a new perspective for the development of an auto-learning environment. The study reveals…

This study compared dimensions of independence and interdependence in parents' beliefs about daily child-rearing practices across four ethnic groups. Two questionnaires were completed by 310 parents of preschool-age children, and three belief constructs were identified. "Conformity" was least valued by European Americans. "Autonomy" was equally…

This study compared perceptions of mentoring relationships among early adolescents, middle adolescents, and emerging adults. In ten focus groups, 56 middle school, high school, and college students described relational experiences that were analyzed thematically. Differences in the characteristics of the mentors nominated by the youth across the…

This guide presents principles of person-centered planning, an approach to organizing and guiding community change in alliance with people with disabilities and their families and friends. The approach focuses on the individual's desired future, his or her present reality, necessary services, and currently available community resources. Individual…

"Twins have often served science but science has rarely served twins" (Novotny, 1988). Twinship presents specific challenges unique to twins in the realms of physical, emotional, social, interpersonal, and academic trials; twins many times suffer in self-esteem, separation-individuation, and object relations. This paper reviews literature which…

The conceptual view of independent study that is developed in this paper is based on discussions of four key ideas: (1) independent study is concerned with both learning and teaching; (2) independent study is concerned with the capacity of learners to be self-directing; (3) independent study systems are both internal and external to educational…

"Autonomy" is an ambiguous term that can denote either the right of adults to manage their own affairs or their actual or potential ability to do so. These various senses of the word are regularly, and often indiscriminately, employed by adult educators. Personal autonomy is probably developed most effectively in a traditional kind of…

Independence and the related concepts of freedom and autonomy are key terms in philosophy of education. Teacher educators are keen on independence, but seem to hold different definitions of the concept, and these various definitions do not co-exist happily. The relative autonomy that one may be able to achieve is not to be had unless one…

Findings of a series of sociological studies on American men indicate that job conditions facilitating occupational self-direction increase men's intellectual flexibility and promote a self-directed orientation to self and society. In addition, jobs that limit occupational self-direction decrease men's intellectual flexibility and promote a…

The second of three manuals on attendant care for disabled persons is intended for parents of severely handicapped youth. An initial message reviews typcial reactions of parents to their child's quest for independence while subsequent sections address the basic principles of independent living and parents' responsibility for structuring learning…

Research has indicated that increasing autonomy to incarcerated youths results in greater acceptance of institutional treatment goals and less support for an inmate counterculture. To examine different processes by which autonomy might affect individual outcomes, 430 youths in four Michigan boys' training schools were surveyed. The questionnaire…

Reviews Caple's article on organizational change as applied to student development. Discusses Caple's ideas of self organization, autonomy and planning as management. Poses questions for personnel workers on implementing Caple's ideas. (Author/ABB)

Classroom observation of 48 staff members and 37 severely disabled students indicated that, regardless of age level or setting, classroom staff responded at very low rates to student-initiated expressions of choice or preference. (Author/DB)

Faculty development programs reflect an underlying distinction between a faculty member's professional roles as teacher and scholar, and have limited impact. If rethought, they could empower college faculties and vitalize their institutions by addressing the mixed nature, multiple features, and necessary complexity of the college teacher's role.…