This study considered data from two longitudinal studies of students which included 154 students of varied reading abilities and 64 poor readers who had been evaluated from third through eighth grades. Single-word reading was strongly predicted from third-grade rapid naming only with poor readers, even when other relevant factors were controlled.…

The Rapid Automatized Naming Test was studied cross sectionally in a sample of kindergartners (n=342) at risk for reading disability and longitudinally in an epidemiologically normal sample of children (n=160). Findings indicate the absolute color/object naming speed was strongly related to reading level and vocabulary across grades. (Author/CR)

Describes a study of American Library Association members that gathered data on self-directed, informal, work-related learning. Compares time spent in formal continuing-education activities with self-directed learning (SDL), and examines relationships among variables likely to influence SDL including size of the institution and professional…

Examines a model in which protective factors are expected to reduce the impact of economic, family, and community risk factors on parental well-being. Marital happiness and perceived school environment are positively related to parental well-being. Parental well-being, marital happiness, and parents' community resources show modest positive…

To explore factors related to selective mutism (SM), a survey of persons (N=153, including 135 children) with SM was undertaken. Three theoretical assumptions are supported: (1) variant talking behaviors prior to identification of SM; (2) link between SM and social anxiety; (3) potential link between temperament and SM. (EMK)

Examined the link between delinquency and school behaviors separately for 267 African-American and 269 White males at risk for delinquency. Class absenteeism was related to higher incidence of minor and serious delinquency, and for African Americans, poor grades and dropping out were predictive of both types of delinquency. (SLD)

A study involving 1,000 parents examined factors that place parents at risk of abusing their children. Results found that examining parental attitudes, history, and personality characteristics, as well as religion and ideology, were important in predicting abuse proneness. Child age was also an important predictor. (Author/CR)

A study used the ABILITIES Index to assess the relationship of inappropriate behaviors to social skills and behavior, vision, intellectual function, and intentional communication in 202 children (ages 6-59 months) with visual impairments. Results indicate inappropriate and unusual behavior continued to increase between birth and age 5. (CR)

Investigates two competing hypotheses related to therapists' worldview and therapists' race/ethnicity: whether therapists of different racial/ethnic groups differ on worldview reflecting group membership, and whether therapists are similar to each other on worldview reflecting membership in a "therapist culture." Results indicate that therapists…

Examined juvenile firesetters of varying degrees to determine predictability of destructive behavior. Developed a prediction equation based on 14 variables, which was found to be accurate 95% of the time. (LBT)

Examined the differential predictive power and effects of representations of child/mother and child/father attachment for children's representation of self and socioemotional competence. Found that the child's positiveness of self was better predicted by quality of child/mother attachment representation than child/father attachment representation.…

Assesses predictors of teachers' responsible environmental behavior (REB). Stepwise multiple-regression analysis showed that most of the parsimonious set of predictors of REB for all teachers included perceived knowledge of environmental-action strategies (KNOW), intention to act (IA), and perceived skill in using environmental-action strategies…

Examines the predictors of recidivism of youths at a juvenile assessment center over a three-year period. Significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics, their dependency referral history variables, and their recidivism to the center. Discusses the service delivery and policy implications of these findings.…

Identity theory is used to organize data gathered from semistructured interviews with parole violators at large (N=25). A typology of absconders bridging clinical and actuarial prediction strategies is proposed. Situational constraints are explored; typical behavior patterns and experiences of parolees are described. Policy implications are…

The validity of the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory was tested with a sample of 40 child physical abusers and 40 nonabusers in Argentina. More than 97% of subjects were correctly classified as abusing or nonabusing individuals. The article is in Spanish. (CR)