To determine if the observed correlation between two variables can be "explained" by a third variable, a significance test on the partial correlation coefficient is often used. This can be misleading when the third variable is measured with error. This article shows how the problem can be partially overcome. (Author/BW)

Using data on 682 couples from a national probability sample, demonstrated that a wife's perception of her husband's attitude toward her employment is moderately inconsistent with the husband's actual attitude. Found several couple characteristics significantly affect the level of inconsistency, indicating degree of couple communication. (Author)

Found that social control indicators (attachment to conventional institutions, commitment to conventional goals, involvement in conventional activities, and belief in conventional norms) predicted adolescent alcohol and drug use. However, peer relationships with drug users was the most significant predictor of drug involvement. (Author/MJL)

Until experimenters can achieve some measure of control over access to information associated with their writing stimuli and outcome measures, research in composition will have a difficult time providing meaningful information on the unique effects on writing of such things as training programs, ethnicity, previous education, and sex. (HOD)

Tested the influence of sex role as a predictor of self-disclosure. Students' scores on masculine dimensions of the Bem Sex Role Inventory predicted disclosure to strangers and acquaintances, but scores on both masculine and feminine dimensions were needed to predict disclosure to intimate targets. Androgynous subjects reported more…

Police officers (N=153) completed a self-report instrument measuring overt and covert anxiety, and a demographic survey exploring officers' perceptions of their need for counseling and to determine factors that predispose officers to seek counseling. Results indicated that officers would seek counseling if services were available. (RC)

A 1972-73 survey of 50 medium-sized public school districts in Wisconsin took 16 variables into account, including teacher salaries and experience, geographic region, and district revenues, in determining that collective bargaining had little or no influence on pupil-teacher ratios. (RW)

Obese persons about to enter a group program intended to produce "conditioned satiety" were asked to estimate their weight loss. Their outcome expectation correlated significantly with weight loss recorded seven weeks later. However, the magnitude of expected weight loss exceeded the actual amount of weight lost. (Author)

Research using a model for studying same-sex friendships has indicated differences between men's and women's friendships consistent with traditional sex roles and socialization patterns. However, the differences are small and diminish as strength/duration of friendship increases. There is no evidence that women's friendships are inferior to those…

A 6-month study was initiated to demonstrate the utility of involving parents in the formal processes of assessing regulatory compliance and quality care in licensed family day care homes. The study was specifically designed to determine (1) levels of parental satisfaction, (2) predictors of parental satisfaction, and (3) the impact of parental…

Describes a model hypothesizing that differential service prescription based on client characteristics improves successful rehabilitation outcome. Studies the validity of this model using entry characteristics and services rendered to Goodwill Industries clients (N=445) as independent variables. Treatment outcome or placement was the criterion.…

Subjects (n=216) reported observations of, or participation in, violence involving parents or siblings, and predicted their own violent behavior in hypothetical situations. Results indicated that recollections of familial violence are significant predictors of self- reported violence and of self-predicted violence in hypothetical situations.…

Evaluated the utility and validity of self-efficacy theory and a theoretical model of relapse with (N=78) cigarette smokers. Results found efficacy state was significantly enhanced as the result of both treatment programs. (Author/RC)

This article reports on the construction of a 60-item inventory for the identification of child abusers. A principal axis factoring with oblique promax rotations was performed to interpret the underlying dimensionality of the predictor items. Four dimensions were found: loneliness, rigidity, problems, and control. (Author/SJL)

Compares the uses of multiple regression, the Automatic Interaction Detector (AID) multivariate program, and cross-tabular analysis in identifying variables associated with newspaper readership. (RL)