Examined performance of over one hundred 6- to 10-year olds on three of each of the following tasks: processing speed, memory span, phonological skill, and articulation tasks assessing speed with which they could say familiar stimuli. Found that performance on span tasks was predicted by phonology and articulation tasks but not by age or…

A survey of 222 K-6 preservice teachers investigated the effectiveness of experience and value factors in predicting perceived computer use in class. The study determined that the value of computers for preservice teachers' career, own needs, and future students were the best predictors. No experience-related factors or value of computers for…

Compares the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of three measures of excessive drinking. Participants' (N=197) responses indicate that the positive predictive values for the Quantity-Frequency Index (QFI) exceeded those for the binge index. The index produced the highest sensitivity rating, but overestimated the number of…

Seeks to identify particular phonological skills that precede and facilitate the development of reading. Assesses preliterate children during and at the end of their first school year. Finds (1) phonological awareness comprises a cluster of related skills; (2) diversified developmental paths; and (3) letter knowledge was a more potent predictor of…

Compares four closed-formula estimators (Burkett, Claudy, Rozeboom, Browne) and the omit-one method for estimating TRS, the true shrunken correlation (not to be confused with TR, the true multiple correlation). Recommendations are based on artificial populations with known TRS. (Author/SV)

The heritability of substance dependence (SD) liability is based on polymorphisms at the genes that are likely to be related to the function of the central nervous system. We have recently shown an association between the dopamine D5 receptor gene and SD liability. We report herein a replication of this association in an independent case-control…

Examines the moderating effect of gender on the predictive relationships between a measure of sensation seeking and impulsivity and four adolescent substance use outcomes. Main-effect relationships were consistently found for sensation seeking-impulsivity with each outcome, but not for gender. Gender was found to moderate the relationship between…

Examines age differences in, and associations among, children's attitudes and intentions regarding alcohol and cocaine use and possible cognitive underpinnings of such orientations. Attitudes and intentions were negative and became less negative with age for alcohol, but more negative with age for cocaine. The cognitive predictors contributed to…

Examines correlates of offender confession in criminal sexual conduct cases involving children. The following four variables are associated with suspect confession: (1) having the state police conducting the law enforcement part of the investigation, (2) more serious abuse, (3) younger age of the suspect, and (4) having a court appointed (as…

Documents the development of an adult sex offender risk assessment tool. A risk scale was developed based upon criminal and therapeutic outcomes of 494 sex offenders. The final risk scale included prior juvenile felony convictions, prior adult felony convictions, victim being intoxicated, denial in therapy, sexual deviance in therapy, and…

Investigates 159 school counselors' previous multicultural workshop experiences and interdependent and independent self-construal as predictors of universal-diverse orientation. Prior workshops in multicultural counseling and interdependent self-construal were significantly related to universal-diverse orientation (acceptance and awareness of…

Examines the relationships among gender, gender identity, and coping in late adolescents. Females endorsed greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies than males. Late adolescents who were high in masculinity endorsed higher levels of problem-focused coping strategies. Overall, gender identity made an important and independent contribution to…

Studies whether Latin or French as a foreign curricular language is a better preparation for learning Spanish. Participants who had learned French at school made markedly fewer grammar errors and slightly fewer vocabulary errors in the Spanish test that participants who had learned Latin. Concludes that knowledge of Latin is probably not an…

This article identifies the different stages or levels of psychosocial maturity in receiving, giving, and taking as indicators of the level of development of a given family or client. The proposed model spotlights specific beliefs, attitudes, and myths that guide client interactions and establishes baselines of behavior and setting goals for…

Investigates the impact of poor community health and maternal isolation on mothers' active engagement in a home-visiting family support program. Results showed that if the mother was living in a county that displayed poor community health, or if the mother was isolated from immediate family and friendship networks, the likelihood of actively…