A study used a new attitude and behavioral scale for measuring the chilling effect--an undercurrent of fear with respect to publishing decisions--and to determine the impact, if any, of threatened or actual libel suits on community newspapers. The editors and/or publishers of all 167 newspapers in Kentucky with a circulation of less than 50,000…

The study compared performance of very low birthweight (VLBW) children at 5 years of age who were enrolled in regular preschool and kindergarten classes with matched classmate controls on cognitive measures and teacher rated classroom behavior. Outcome measures included the Slosson Intelligence Test, Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration,…

A definition of leader authentication was developed, focusing on a leader's salience of self over role, non-manipulation of subordinates and accepting of personal and organizational responsibility. The Leader Authenticity Scale (LAS) was constructed to be consistent with this definition. Its validity was checked by specifying and testing…

The rated inventory, a behavior analytic approach, is offered to supplement inadequate norm based and/or grade referenced assessment techniques in the development of precision teaching programs for students in all levels of reading. (MC)

A scale was constructed to assess individual differences in self-consciousness. Norms and test-retest reliability are presented. Factor analysis of the scale revealed that self-consciousness has three components: public, private, and social anxiety. The relationships among these three factors are examined. (Author)

The effects of the label "mentally retarded" on peer attitudes was examined among third-grade pupils. The results show that labels should be considered only as they interact with specific behavior. (Author/DEP)

The process by which expectations influence social interaction can be investigated, according to the authors. Hence, the Behavioral Expectations Scale (BES) was developed. Preliminary data indicate the BES may be useful in further investigation of the role of expectation in influencing the behavior toward those labeled "mentally ill."…

Supported by the Education Improvement Program (Ford Foundation), Durham, North Carolina.

The use of behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) as the basis of an assessment system that was designed to improve academic department chairpersons in a college of arts and sciences is described. Twenty-eight faculty members, two from each department, were asked to identify evaluative dimensions for assessing chairperson performance and to…

The study involving 20 retarded adolescents and adults was designed to develop a rapid screening instrument predictive of a client's overall level of functioning. Using the Broome Functional Behavior Checklist, information was collected on each of the S's adaptive behaviors. The concept of using a subtest of items on a functional profile to make…

Grossman's subjective guidelines for identifying different levels of retardation were translated into a scorable functional behavior checklist and administered to 24 institutionalized mentally retarded Ss (age range 17-to-54 years). The guidelines were arranged into the following seven catagories: self-help skills, physical skills, communication,…