A study of middle-class second, fifth, and eighth graders showed the development of tolerant responses toward those who dissented from their opinions. Willingness to interact socially with dissenters did not develop. (BB)

Measures of vocabulary, phonological memory, nonverbal intelligence, and reading were taken from 80 children at ages 4, 5, 6, and 8 years. Comparisons revealed a significant shift in the causal underpinnings of the relationship between phonological memory and vocabulary development before and after age five. (Author/LB)

Mothers in Argentina, France, Japan, and the United States were observed interacting with their 5- and 13-month-old infants. Maternal speech was classified into expressions concerning affect and information. Mothers in all cultures used both classifications with their infants and spoke to older infants more than younger infants. (BC)

One study compared maternal-infant interactions in two samples: Gusii mothers in Kenya and suburban Boston mothers. A second study examined the relationship between mother-infant interaction and maternal educational attainment in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Found that maternal responsiveness was influenced by the mother's cultural background and school…

Evidence suggests that sexual abuse has serious long-term effects; but specific effects, independent of force, threatened force, or family variables such as parental psychopathology, are not yet clarified. Effects among adults in terms of their relationship to sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, fear, multiple or borderline personality…

A 7-month longitudinal study of 20 2- and 3-year-old children shows that children at an early age already know that counting words each refer to a distinct numerosity, although they do not know to which numerosity. It takes children a long time to learn the latter. (SLD)

Children of inductive parents, or those rated low in their use of power assertive discipline, exhibited fewer disruptive playground behaviors than other children. Daughters of inductive mothers exhibited more prosocial behavior than other children. Children of inductive mothers were preferred to other children by peers. (BC)

Traditional- (n=103) and nontraditional-aged (n=85) women majoring in education were surveyed concerning the relationship of multiple roles to student role strain and affective well-being. Multiple role incumbency was unrelated to student role strain for either group but was positively related to well-being in the nontraditional-age group.…

A study examined the relationship between student evaluations of teaching effectiveness, age of faculty, and timing of retirement among tenured faculty. Results suggest a significant but small impact of age, varying by discipline. Uncapping of mandatory retirement appears to raise no major concerns for dramatic deterioration in teaching…

This study evaluated Frith's 3-phase model of reading acquisition with 300 children in 2 cohorts who were followed from kindergarten through grade 3. Varying relationships were found among global language abilities, word recognition abilities, and reading comprehension depending on grade level. Implications for the study and treatment of…

Some higher education officials say the end of mandatory retirement may lead to lower faculty turnover and could reduce opportunities for young scholars, mainly members of minorities, women, and younger faculty in the departments for which the individual institution is most respected. (Author/MSE)

Two college faculty members offer thoughts about their own academic careers, the nature of academic life, faculty compensation, and social and educational changes. The comments reflect views emerging from different generational experiences. (MSE)

Surveyed secondary school girls in 1984 (n=442), 1989 (n=395), and 1992 (n=367) to assess changes in use of weight reduction/control techniques. Found significant decrease in dieting, fasting, and use of appetite suppressants among high school students. Middle school students reported significant increase in fasting and no change in medication use…

Results of a large-scale evaluation of early and middle immersion programs in the Toronto (Ontario) area, involving 4 districts and 26 grade 8 classes, suggest that middle immersion yields less consistent performance levels than early immersion. Overall, findings favor early immersion. (11 references) (Author/MSE)

A study compared the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) performance of secondary school students who had participated in intensive ESL instruction in grade five or six and those following regular ESL instruction in elementary school. Students with early instruction maintained the English language superiority acquired during the program. (eight…