This article reviews services offered by comprehensive rehabilitation centers for the blind, as described by former clients in an essay contest. Contestants wrote of their psychological reactions to blindness and their attitudes, both positive and negative, toward the services, staff, and structure of the programs. (Author/DB)

Determined strength of relationship between social desirability, psychological distress, and consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment in 82 clients in therapy. Results indicated that both consumer satisfaction reports and psychological distress scores were contaminated by socially desirable responding. (Author/ABL)

Describes a study that assessed the attitudes of novice searchers before and after using a laser videodisk system. The discussion covers the relationships between the users' initial attitudes, prior computer experience, and success in using the videodisk system. (11 references) (Author/CLB)

A British survey of 1,164 new registered nurses (1,015 responses) asked about career guidance they received related to applying for their first job, taking postbasic courses, and making longer-term plans. Few received much guidance, especially about individual career planning. (SK)

Interviews with German nursing students and teachers show that regular written examinations can have a positive effect if used to train for final exams, not for reproduction of facts, theories, and procedures. Preparing for factual qualifications (professional competence) necessitates their learning to think and perceive as nurses, a process that…

A study of the American Home Economics Association's certification program received responses from 1,002 of 1,595 certificate renewers and 739 of 1,460 nonrenewers. Certification has increased professional commitment and improved state associations, and most are satisfied with the program, except for its effects on employment opportunities and…

Eighty-two child victims of sexual abuse and their families were interviewed about their experiences with disclosure and intervention an average of 3.5 years later. Children reported primarily favorable experiences. Factors associated with increased distress included more contact with intervention professionals, having a medical exam, and…

A survey assessing components of attitude thought to be relevant to success in a program for mathematically talented youth was administered to 61 participants on 4 occasions over a 2-year period. Male participants showed a significantly higher level of motivation, confidence, and interest in mathematics than did females. Attitude declines over…

Evaluated career-planning course for its effects on multidimensional Career-Decision Profile. Subjects were 131 students who participated in the treatment condition and 109 controls. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences on three subscales for the treatment condition. (Author/NB)

A psychological contract is a set of unwritten reciprocal expectations between trainee and training program. Public agency trainers must establish and manage psychological contracts through clearly defined objectives and development of a learning climate that leads to effective training. (SK)

Examined time limited (10 sessions) counseling treatments to explore history of working alliance over time. Two counselors working with four clients reported similar patterns of working alliance development. Initial development phase of working relationship appeared to be followed by period when relationship decays, but it appeared that the…

Interviews with graduates of certificate programs found that graduates derived career benefits from completion; valued practitioners as teachers but recognized their shortcomings; and felt that certificate programs have a low priority and marginal role in universities. (SK)

A study evaluated a teaching model in which contact between medical students, patients, and physicians was maximized. Each student (n=96) learned the physical examination of the abdomen and genitourinary system through contact with four patients, a plastic model, and five physicians. Students appreciated the interaction and physician role models.…

This study examined whether individuals with Down's syndrome preferred to participate in bowling with other people with Down's syndrome or with people with no apparent mental retardation. It found that 15 of the 21 adult subjects preferred to bowl with others who had Down's syndrome. Implications for the free choice of leisure activities are…

Responds to previous two articles on session impact in counseling process research. Notes that Session Impacts Scale and Session Evaluation Questionnaire have great potential as research tools. Discusses issues of retest reliability, connection of session-level measures to research strategies based on other units of analyses, and suggested uses of…