Discusses the educational applications of experimental psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of peak experience, or optimal flow. Optimal flow refers to the receptive state people achieve when they are engaged in interesting and challenging activity. Includes an insightful critique of multimedia instruction from this perspective. (MJP)

Describes the objectives of a national study on workforce training conducted to determine needs for such training and results of community college efforts. Reports preliminary findings for 70 colleges, indicating that employers expressed considerable need for workforce training and were generally satisfied with the quality of programs. (AJL)

Discusses the need for efficient ways to handle school conflict issues so they do not disrupt the learning environment or lead to a decrease in teacher job satisfaction. Presents findings of a study examining elementary school teachers' attitudes toward conflict resolution, their implementation of conflict resolution programs, their job…

Analyzes data from 285 African American social workers and administrators to demonstrate effect of perceptions of agency cultural sophistication on reports of psychological and work-related stress. Discusses usefulness of cultural sophistication as an explanatory variable in understanding staff perceptions of occupational and psychological stress…

This study, involving 357 mothers, assessed the type and scope of services provided to families participating in 63 early intervention programs. Analysis found that services were more related to child information and family instructional activities than to personal/family and resource assistance, and that home-based programs and center-based…

A New York University study compared effects of the Direct Student Loan and Federal Family Education Loan programs on students, families, and campus administrators and of the programs' best practices. Some administrative challenges with dual program participation were found. Reactions to the programs were largely similar and positive, but…

A literature review of teacher stress in Scotland found that hours worked by teachers have not changed significantly over the last decade, but the number of unpopular tasks over which teachers have little control has increased, resulting in increased stress. Being forced to implement mandated changes also increases teacher stress. (Contains 46…

A study examining the effects of alternative school calendars surveyed 254 principals and teachers from predominantly rural schools in Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. Results revealed strong support for a calendar that rescheduled rather than added school days and that reduced summer vacation. Advantages included academic improvement, extra…

A study examined self perceptions of eight persons with mental retardation on the adequacy of their social support systems. Suburban participants had more informal sources of support and utilized informal supports more frequently than rural subjects. Suburbanites also had a higher self-perception of the adequacy of their social support systems.…

Graduates of seven teacher preparation programs, all combining early childhood and early childhood and early childhood special education programs were surveyed. Respondents reported greater perceived strengths in general early childhood and child development than in special education. Graduates desired more content and application in working with…

Presents results from a survey of 703 full-time college faculty from 35 2-year colleges, regarding their backgrounds, interests, professional activities, and perceptions. Finds job satisfaction related to influence at the college, perceptions of students, adverse institutional finances, colleges' intellectual quality, and perception of department…

A study examined sources of satisfaction, indicators of stress, research and teaching performance, and reward structure in the academic careers of matched pairs of male and female faculty (N=63) at a major state university. Results are presented and discussed with respect to prior research on gender differences and academic career. (Author/MSE)

A longitudinal design was used to examine marital change in 98 couples over the first 2.5 years of marriage, comparing parents to nonparents. The degree of congruity between spouses' sex role activities and division of labor explained differences between reports of love and marital conflict. (Author/TE)

Issues relating to subject control in online catalogs are addressed in 15 articles. Practical topics such as the importance of public service/technical service communication in subject cataloging are interspersed with such research issues as the promise of artificial intelligence in improving subject retrieval. An overview bibliography of subject…

Presents theories of motivation classified as those dealing either with exogenous causes or with endogenous processes. The following strategies for improving work motivation are discussed: (1) personal motives; (2) incentives and rewards; (3) reinforcement; (4) goal-setting techniques; (5) personal and material resources; (6) social and group…