Presents research findings on the relationship of academic skill level, ethnic membership, and foreign birth to two personality traits, autonomy and theoretical orientation, in a sample of college undergraduates. Concludes that while sex, foreign birth, and ethnicity were not related to either trait, the experience of attending college has a…

This study examined the relation between parenting practices and children's participation in and deciding on their after-school activities, as well as in mother-child interactions during a laboratory task involving planning. Participants were 180 mothers and their 7-year-old children (101 European American and 79 Latino American). During a…

This report describes a program designed to increase opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to lead good lives in places of their own, strengthen their communities, and enjoy a genuine sense of self-worth. In addition to offering independent services, the Training Toward Self-Reliance (TTSR) program staff have increased their…

Drawing from a compelling educational initiative that introduced developmentally appropriate teaching techniques from the United States to the well-established early childhood programs in Europe and the former Soviet Union, this book contends that there are subtle, yet effective, teaching techniques that encourage choice, individualism,…

This paper discusses the development of self-determination skills by students with disabilities and the role of the professional in promoting these skills. It begins by providing a list of 25 elements of self-determination and then explains the importance of promoting the development of self-advocacy groups and other endeavors initiated by and for…

Essential viewing for parents contemplating a Montessori education for their child, this videotape shows a day in the life of a Montessori school and explains the fundamental principles which underpin the Montessori approach to early childhood education. The first part of the videotape narrates a brief biography of Maria Montessori and the…

What should the aims of education be in a liberal society? Who should exercise control over children's education in a liberal state, and what form should that control take? Should all schools be forced to enter an 'educational marketplace?' How can children be taught to become good citizens of a pluralistic state? This book seeks to answer these…

Explored the relationship between attribution of success and sex role orientation of women (N=114) in graduate school. Results indicated that, among achievement oriented college women, attributional style was related to sex role orientation. Women who were more traditional saw their reinforcers coming from family and social forces. (JAC)

Examined the relationship between adolescents' (N=72) perceptions of their parents' marital coalition and academic success as a college freshman. Results showed that students reporting a primary marital alliance tended to succeed academically and were more integral on the Rotter I-E scale than students reporting a nonmarital alliance as primary.…

Normative data collected on 197 disadvantaged high school dropouts on the dimension of internal-external control indicate this group appears to be external, but not markedly so. A short-term intervention program designed to improve academic and vocational skills did not appear to affect locus of control of 33 subjects. (Author/PN)

Notes both teacher's and parents' concerns over placing twin boys in the same early childhood classroom. Offers suggestions for teachers and parents to foster each child's independence and character traits without the trauma of placing them in separate environments. (HTH)

Three surveys, administered a year apart, to 259 newly hired, tenure track faculty at five colleges found their perception of personal control was a critical factor in emotional well-being, stress level, job satisfaction, by itself or in combination with institution type and time. Faculty at liberal arts and comprehensive colleges had most…

Investigates the influence of children's affective dispositions and knowledge of emotions on their ability to use nonaggressive conflict resolution strategies, exploring connections between autonomy and socioemotional development. Finds that individual differences in affective dispositions and emotional knowledge influence children's abilities to…

Three studies examined children's understanding of their authority over their self-knowledge. Findings suggest that the shift from reliance on adults to self occurs between 5 and 10 years of age, with parallel development in judging own and other people's self-knowledge. Children between ages 5 and 7 could differentiate between information about…

This study documented one child's development of conflict resolution skills when a peer problem-solving model was used in a constructivist-designed classroom. Findings revealed that this child progressed from a power assertion style of conflict resolution to a more sophisticated form of negotiation. The study supports current thinking that young…