Discussion of student achievement and persistence rates in science, engineering, and mathematics disciplines focuses on a study of college students that evaluated the joint contributions of academic background measures and other factors, including self-beliefs, toward the explanation of overall grade performance. Describes correlations between…

Used the Parents as Teachers Inventory to examine the relation between socioeconomic status and attitudes of 80 mothers of 3- to 5-year-olds who had attended Head Start or a university nursery school regarding play and creativity. Found that mothers of children attending the university school had higher play and creativity scores than mothers of…

Tested competing causal models concerning the relationship between children's social behaviors and theory of mind in 3- and 4-year-olds tested 3 times over 7 months. Found that false belief performance predicted joint planning and role assignment during pretend play, after taking into account initial performance on joint planning and role…

Assessed preschoolers' peer aggression and emotional displays outside of and during aggressive interactions, their emotion knowledge, and peer acceptance. Found that connections between affective dispositions and aggression and peer acceptance varied as a function of the emotion context and the particular emotion involved. Significant connections…

Investigated how well the theory of planned behavior could predict students' physical activity intention. Surveys indicated that direct measures of the theory of planned behavior explained 47 percent of variability in the measure of physical activity intention. Differences surfaced in the relative contributions of three predictors (attitude,…

Tests two theories regarding the factors that influence job satisfaction in an organizational setting: the job characteristic theory, and the social information processing theory. Finds individuals' job satisfaction is predicted by objective characteristics of the job, and an individual's level of job satisfaction is influenced by the job…

Interviews with 22 parents who had participated in a special education appeals process, 16 school officials, and 6 mediators found 8 factors that escalate parent-school conflict: discrepant views of a child or a child's needs, knowledge, service delivery, reciprocal power, constraints, valuation, communication, and trust. (Contains references.)…

The vocalizations and speech production of 20 infants with hearing impairments were examined at three age levels: between 5-13 months, 2-5 years, and 5-10 years. Degree of hearing loss had a significant and moderately strong relationship with speech outcome at the second and third age levels. (Contains extensive references.) (Author/CR)

Examines the roles of decision-making network characteristics and decision-making satisfaction in determining caregiver well being. Results, based on 244 adult child and spouse caregiver interviews, indicate that aspects of family environment, such as adaptability and conflict, are the best predictors of decision-making satisfaction. Caregiver…

A study that investigated the satisfaction of 60 Australian stroke survivors with their rehabilitative progress over 12 months found satisfaction with progress improved with time and was influenced by the return to previous lifestyle activities, depression, family functioning, understanding of stroke, and clarity of expectations on admission to…

Studies of variables predicting familial breast cancer (N=59) were analyzed to develop screening recommendations for women with nonhereditary familial breast cancer present. The pooled relative risk (RR) and cumulative probability were used to estimate risk. Data and conclusions are presented. Recommendations for screening and counseling are…

A study examined the relationship over a 6-year period between teacher ratings of social skills of 80 boys, recorded in grade 5 and arrest records of the boys through grade 11. Teacher ratings of social skills were a significant predictor of police contacts and arrest status during middle and high school years. (Author/CR)

Compared adjustment of 30 young adults who had a stable, reciprocal best friend in fifth grade and 30 who did not. Found that lower peer rejection uniquely predicted overall life status adjustment. Friended preadolescents had higher general self-worth in adulthood, even after controlling for perceived preadolescence competence. Peer rejection and…

This survey examined the prevalence and determinants of corporal punishment in preparatory and secondary schools in Alexandria (Egypt). Findings indicated that 80% of boys and over 61% of girls incurred physical punishment by teachers. Preparatory students were physically punished more often than secondary students. Punishment was also predicted…

A study that interviewed 397 parents of children with disabilities and 226 early-intervention service coordinators found variables identified as most influencing a collaborative relationship were those that reflected a family-centered approach to relationship building, and basic interpersonal skills such as following through on plans and paying…