bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Alcohol Use and Other Delinquent Behaviors
Authors: NEWCOMB MICHAEL D. , McGEE LINDA
Published: March 2007

The often-noted association between alcohol use and criminal behavior has been a sticky one for behavioral scientists to disentangle and explain in terms of causal ordering. In this study, we examine late adolescence as a particularly critical developmental period during which each of these activities is being established. Several theories are proposed and tested to explain the relationship between alcohol use and criminal involvement using one-year longitudinal data. Sensation seeking was included as a plausible underlying spurious influence that might account for the association between alcohol use and criminal behavior. A majority of both males and females had used alcoholic substances, and a substantial minority had engaged in some type of other deviant behavior. All analyses were conducted separately by sex, and — although there were several mean sex differences — there were few major sex differences in the magnitude or patterns of association between alcohol and deviance either cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Alcohol use and deviance were moderately stable over the one-year period. Nevertheless, clear support was found for the hypothesis that early alcohol use generated or caused increased later deviance and criminal behavior for both sexes. Little support was found for the reverse hypothesis, particularly when sensation seeking was considered; early delinquent behavior had no direct effect on changing patterns of alcohol use. Some support for the problem behavior hypothesis was found based on the high intercorrelations among the constructs, although little support emerged for any of the other theories considered.
Lay and Professionals' Beliefs about Crime and Criminal Sentencing
Authors: STALANS LORETTA J. , LURIGIO ARTHUR J.
Published: March 2007

A conceptual framework, schema theory, is presented to understand and compare lay and professionals' beliefs about crime and evaluations of the criminal justice system. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of probation officers ( N = 145) and laypersons ( N = 179) to examine differences between laypersons and probation officers' beliefs about burglary characteristics and evaluations of judicial sentencing. As expected from schema theory, laypersons were significantly more likely than probation officers to report that the burglar carried a weapon, had a longer adult and juvenile record, and was likely to commit physical harm in the future. In their evaluations of criminal sentencing, probation officers relied on their perception of the congruency between their own sentencing preferences and their impressions of judicial sentencing. Directions for future research are discussed.
Refacing Inmates
Authors: THOMPSON KEVIN M.
Published: March 2007

This article reviews the role of plastic surgery in rehabilitating disfigured inmates. These programs surfaced over 30 years ago under the assumption that physical deformities were retarding rehabilitation efforts. There are signs that such programs are on the rise, despite the fact that these programs are poorly understood. Few of the published plastic surgery experiments conducted on inmates yield interpretable results, since most of these studies suffer from internal validity problems. Moreover, it is not clear whether disfigurements function as a cause or a consequence of antisocial behavior. Last, we know too little about (a) what types of cosmetic procedures yield positive outcomes, (b) whether corrective surgery works better on adolescents or adults, (c) whether we should concentrate on correcting disfigurements among chronic as opposed to occasional offenders, and (d) whether behavioral outcomes emerging from plastic surgery will vary by gender.
Risk for Physical Child Abuse and the Personal Consequences for its Victims
Authors: SALZINGER SUZANNE , FELDMAN RICHARD S. , HAMMER MURIEL , ROSARIO MARGARET
Published: March 2007

This article summarizes the recent literature on the effects of physical abuse on children in the domains of neurological impairment, intellectual functioning, socioemotional functioning, social behavior, and social cognition. New empirical data are presented on dysfunctional peer relationships in school-age children. The findings are interpreted within a theoretical framework composed of three elements: the conceptualization of abusive parenting as on a continuum with the parenting process in general, the effect of abuse-attributable changes in children's behavior on their future behavior, and the continuing interaction between children's dysfunctional behavior and their social environment. In addition, a multivariate family risk model for child abuse is offered and tested using a path analysis.
The Relationship of Hyperactivity and Sensation Seeking to Delinquency Subtypes
Authors: JEFFERSON TERRY W. , JOHNSON JAMES H.
Published: March 2007

This study separated juvenile delinquents into three personality subtypes and tested the relationship among these three groups with regard to stimulation seeking and a prior history of hyperactivity. It was hypothesized that the psychopathic personality delinquents would score higher on stimulation seeking and hyperactivity than would the socialized-subcultural and neurotic delinquents. Twenty-eight male delinquents incarcerated in two juvenile facilities in north central Florida were classified into personality subtypes based on the Personal Opinion Survey. There was no significant relationship between personality subtypes and stimulation seeking. There was a positive relationship between the raw scores on the Personal Opinion Survey, Psychopathic Scale, and the Hyperactivity Index and the Learning Problems Scale on the Conners Parent Rating Scale. The results are discussed in relation to previous findings and implications for further research.
The Relation of Peer Assessment to Future Law Enforcement Performance
Authors: SCHUMACHER JOSEPH E. , SCOGIN FORREST , HOWLAND KIM , McGEE JOHN
Published: March 2007

The association of peer assessment techniques and law enforcement job performance was investigated. Participants were trainees at a law enforcement academy who were subsequently employed in diverse law enforcement agencies. Results indicated that peer rankings were significantly correlated with academy instructor rankings, with job supervisor evaluations, and with two of four objective measures of job performance (retention and absenteeism). These results indicate that peer assessment techniques evidence concurrent and predictive validity. Potential applications of peer assessment in law enforcement settings are discussed.
A Conceptual Definition of Child Neglect
Authors: DUBOWITZ HOWARD , BLACK MAUREEN , STARR RAYMOND H. , ZURAVIN SUSAN
Published: March 2007

Although child neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment, considerable confusion remains regarding its definition. A conceptual definition of neglect is presented based on an ecological model of child maltreatment. The definition focuses on the basic needs of children that are not met, rather than on the intentions or behavior of parents. The replacement of parental culpability by a shared responsibility including parents, families, the community, and society is suggested. Neglect is seen as a heterogeneous phenomenon that varies by type, severity, and chronicity. In addition, neglect is understood as existing on a continuum ranging from optimal to grossly inadequate care. The context within which neglect occurs, including parents' understanding of children's needs, religious and cultural beliefs, and poverty, influences the approaches of clinicians, researchers, and policymakers toward the problem of child neglect.
The Conduct of Socially Sensitive Research:
Authors: HALL KATURAH JENKINS , OSBORN CANDICE A.
Published: March 2007

This article examines some extra-research variables inherent in conducting community-based research with child molesters and other sex offenders. These include such issues as informed consent with court-referred participants, confidentiality when interagency collaboration is necessary, and duty to take proper care. Methods for establishing the scientific credibility of the project, responding to client grievances, dealing with client crises, and protecting staff and the surrounding community also are addressed. Adopting procedures similar to those described here could be an important step in ensuring the viability of other socially sensitive research projects.
The Validation of the Megargee-Bohn Typology in African American and Caucasian Forensic Psychiatric Patients
Authors: HUTTON HEIDI E. , MINER MICHAEL H.
Published: March 2007

This study examined whether the Megargee MMPI typology had differential validity for African American and Caucasian forensic psychiatric inpatients. We compared 516 African American and Caucasian patients in our four most common Megargee types across demographic, clinical, and forensic variables. Our findings indicate that the profile descriptions of types Charlie, Delta, How, and Item cannot be applied with equal confidence to African American and Caucasian forensic patients. Although certain demographic factors did not differ across ethnic groups, there were differences in clinical/forensic and hospital assault variables. In addition, the Caucasian sample showed the expected pattern of associations, whereas the African American sample did not.
Psychosocial Correlates of Male Sexual Aggression in a Chronic Delinquent Sample
Authors: SPACCARELLI STEVEN , BOWDEN BLAKE , COATSWORTH J. DOUGLAS , KIM SONI
Published: March 2007

Theory and previous studies have suggested that sexual aggression in juveniles is associated with past sexual victimization, deficits in social competence, and high levels of neurotic symptoms. This study examined these and other variables as potential correlates of sexual aggression in a sample of 210 chronic delinquents that included 24 arrested sex offenders, 26 self-reported sexual offenders, 106 nonsexual violent offenders, and 54 low-violence controls. Arrested and self-reported sex offenders differed only with respect to sexual victimization, with arrested offenders being more likely to report victimization by a male perpetrator. The combined sex offender group differed from the low-violence control group on several variables; the former reported greater exposure to serious physical abuse and to domestic violence involving weapons, attitudes more accepting of sexual and physical aggression, and more use of aggressive control seeking in response to stress. Implications of these findings for rehabilitation and treatment programs are discussed.
Communication Difficulties in the AIDS Ward
Authors: KING KATHRYN
Published: March 2007

Cultural theory claims that there are only five basic ways of life, or worldviews, and that communication difficulties stem from different beliefs about right and wrong. According to cultural theory, communication difficulties experienced between groups can be explained by understanding the participants' views of morality, appropriate behavior, and just consequences for bad acts. Interactions among correctional transport officers, clinic nurses, and inmates with AIDS were examined in a community hospital in the northeastern United States. Based on comments culled from 500 hours of observation, each group was placed in a cultural theory category. The majority of correctional officers were placed in the hierarchy category, nurses were egalitarian, and inmates were fatalists. Cultural theory may explain why the participants believe as they do and appears to merit further study in this and other areas in which security and health care personnel clash.
Inmate Experiences and Psychological Well-Being
Authors: WOOLDREDGE JOHN D.
Published: March 2007

This study examined how inmate psychological well-being is influenced by participation in institutional programs, frequency of visitation with outsiders, and experiences with victimization during incarceration. Participants were 581 adult inmates from three Ohio correctional facilities. Support was found for the hypotheses that healthier attitudes correspond with greater program participation, more frequent visitation, and no experience with victimization. The policy implications of these findings are presented.
Toward a Theory of Innovation
Authors: Downs George W. , Mohr Lawrence B.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this article is to eliminate further conceptual obstacles to the develop ment of a workable theory of innovation and to move toward a better theoretic statement. The approach to overcoming the conceptual problems centers primarily around four ideas: (1) building a theory around the "innovation decision" as the unit of analysis, rather than either innovations or adopters: (2) lifting the level of general ity of independent variables so that a great deal of statistical interaction is avoided; (3) splitting the act of innovation into two stages, diffusion and adoption, to eliminate the confounding effects of time of awareness in studies of innovation; (4) introducing the idea of a "fair-trial point" into the conceptualization of innovation, solving sev eral additional problems at once.
Organizationl Response To Environmental Pressures
Authors: Milward H. Brinton , Swanson Cheryl
Published: March 2007

This article outlines a strategy for examining the effect of environmentally induced change on organizational behavior. The major concern is the response of organi zations to demands to hire greater numbers of women and minorities. Central to predicting organizational response to change is a reformulation of the concept of technological core with respect to one type of structure—the public federative organi zation. Given the literature on organizational environment and change, it is predicted that organizations will accede to demands to hire more women and minorities but will channel them into positions that are thought to confer the least cost and the greatest benefit on the organization itself irrespective of the goals of affirmative action. The implications of the study are important for predicting major obstacles to policy implementation.
In Traagency Limitations On Policy Implementation
Authors: Johnson Ronald W. , O'Connor Robert E.
Published: March 2007

The literature on policy implementation suggests three major reasons for the failure of program personnel in public bureaucracies to implement policy as expected by upper-level administrators and legislators: (1) lack of understanding of policy ob jectives, (2) lack of resources or capability, and (3) disagreement with policy ob jectives. Most of the literature, however, also either implicitly or explicitly assumes that policies which are not implemented are the "correct" policies and conclude with observations on how to better control the behavior of policy implementa tion personnel. This article introduces evidence that lower-level personnel do in deed change or ignore policy directives, but do so deliberately and in a manner con sistent with larger system goals. Evidence from a state welfare organization suggests more attention to the reasons for deviation from official regulations and more dis cretionary authority for lower-level personnel.
Federal Executives
Authors: Lynn Naomi B. , Vaden Richard E.
Published: March 2007

In 1978, before the passage of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, a questionnaire was mailed to federal executives to determine their attitude toward the proposed reforms. Included in the questionnaire was an open-ended question which was filled out by 660 executives at the GS 15-18 levels. Through content analysis, 8 areas of concern and potential barriers to meaningful transition were identified. The most frequently expressed theme was thefear that the new legislation would lead to politicization of the civil service. Other themes in the study were: affirmative action, bureaucratic image, bonuses, cronyism, managerial power, pay, performance evaluations, and unions. These issues must be identified and evaluated if the Office of Personnel Management is to achieve meaningful change.
From Idea to Action
Authors: Alexander Ernest R.
Published: March 2007

Implementation studies appearing since 1973 show a disappointing lack of convergence that may be due to different, often implicit, conceptualizations of implementation. They range from "classical" linear models linking policy or statute with execution to "circular, " "adaptive, " or "evolutionary" concepts that envisage a more dynamic interaction between the making and implementation of policy. It is suggested that the wide range of possible situations calls for a contingent theory linking policy to implementation. Such a theory demands a conceptual model that is abstract enough to accommodate diversity and to recognize that failure to implement policies or programs is not an aberration. A model is presented that meets these specifications: the Policy-Program-Implementation Process (PPIP) model, which can serve as a conceptual framework for developing contingent theories of policy implementation in the future.
Public Entrepreneurship and the Teleology of Technology
Authors: Lewis Eugene
Published: March 2007

Virtually autonomous bureaucratic actors pursuing technological goals are discussed in terms of the cultural and political beliefs in "autonomous technology." In this theoretical construct, examples are drawn from the history of space and defense projects in order to suggest some institutional relationships between the two streams of thought that comprise the title. It concluded that conventional theories of policy formation that presently dominate American politics and public administration are inadequate to account for either the entrepreneurial behavior of administrative actors or the "telic inclination" of certain large-scale public technologies.
But Women Play the Game Too
Authors: Duerst-Lahti Georgia
Published: March 2007

Studies on the sociolinguistic behavior of informal groups find that men largely control conversations by speaking longer and more often, interrupting women, and managing the topics discussed. This presents major implications for the effectiveness of women in administrative decision-making groups. Women administrators may not influence decisions commensurate with their presence if men control communications. This article assesses the gender dynamics of a state interagency task force to determine the prevalence and strength of power based on group roles compared to gender roles and to see whether and how women assert control in decision conversations. It has consequences for all routine bureaucratic policymaking.
Legal Parameters of Administration in a Democratic Society
Authors: Lee Robert D.
Published: March 2007

Alternative approaches exist for setting legal limits on the powers of government administrators in a democratic society. Australia, starting in the 1970s, launched a set of reforms that has come to be called the "new administrative law." Today, there are 12 major characteristics of the Australian system, some of which are common in the United States, some less common, and some basically not in use. Experience under this system shows positive results, but some troubling aspects of administrative law continue.
Professional Skill and Support for Democratic Principles
Authors: Streib Gregory
Published: March 2007

This study examines the impact of professional skill on citizen participation and respect for political leadership among local government department heads in Northern Illinois. Data were collected by a mailed survey modeled after a number of similar research efforts. The findings indicate that although the respondents displayed some reservations about invasive citizen participation and the irrationality of the political process, such viewpoints were not a function of increased professional skill. In fact, within certain departments, professional skill education, and the presence of a professional municipal administrator were shown to increase concern for citizen participation and respect for political leadership. The findings suggest that within the local government environment, processes associated with professionalization and municipal reform may bring benefits beyond increased management skill.
Hobbesian and Rousseauian Identities
Authors: Diamond Michael A.
Published: March 2007

The primary argument in this article is that the ability of any public organization to withstand the storms of political pressure and change stems from the character of leader-follower relations. Ultimately, the personal, political, and ethical integrity of public administrators depends on the degree of organizational resilience of public agencies. This resilience relies on the effective leadership of change. To enhance and clarify this perspective, the author uses Hobbesian and Rousseauian political theory as metaphors of organizational experience. From a psychodynamic perspective, this article attempts to explore more deeply the private world of public administrators undergoing organizational change.
The Ethics and Efficacy of Resignation in Public Administration
Authors: Long Norton E.
Published: March 2007

Given the doctrine of neutral competence, the question of a duty to resign rarely arises for civil servants. Ethical obligations are fulfilled by loyally carrying out the instructions of legitimate superiors. If however, one is persuaded that the public is better served by civil servants who, acting in terms of an agency perspective-their public trust-formulate a principled conception of the public's interest that they believe they have an obligation to promote, even against the wishes of superiors and public alike, the case is different. Civil servants in such a case may feel they owe the public, as Burke told the electors of Bristol, their independent best judgment, not their servile acquiescence in what they believe may harm the public they are sworn to serve. Given the importance of the independence and integrity of civil servants' judgments and the gravity of those judgments, ongoing principled development of the meaning of the public interest-improving our practice as we work—is a high-priority task.
Organizational Metapaiterns
Authors: Adams Guy B.
Published: March 2007

Recurring tacit patterns of relationships, called here metapatterns, represent an important, but largely neglected, focus for researchers interested in organizational culture. How metapatterns emerge and how they manifest themselves in organizational behavior is discussed at some length. Metapatterns, which comprise the tacit level of interpersonal and group interaction in organizations, are linked to other levels of analysis. The implications of metapatterns for the study of organizations are examined.
Why Public Managers Should Not Be Afraid to Enter the "Gray Zone"
Authors: Landsbergen David , Orosz Janet Foley
Published: March 2007

Public managers must understand that there are legal "gray zones "-areas where the law is ambiguous or silent on the actions they can take. Unfortunately, many public managers view the ambiguity and silence as a constraint, and thereby immediately foreclose many of the strategic options available to them. Instead, we argue that public managers should embrace the gray zone and explore its strategic possibilities by using some of the legal tools at their disposal. We offer a model of how managers can view and use the gray zone in crafting their strategies. Case study examples support and illustrate our prescriptions. This article begins our work of identifying some of the strategies involving legal tools and their relative advantages. These strategies move managers from the traditional static view of the legal environment toward a more powerful and effective action-dynamic view.
Public Administration and the Overseas Territories
Authors: Kent James D.
Published: March 2007

The United States finds itself in the historically anomalous position of maintaining exclusive or shared sovereignty in a number of islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Their dependent political status imposes more than financial obligations on the United States. Although U.S. domestic resources are stretched thin, some modest steps can be taken to help the islands govern more effectively. These include continuing attempts to improve administration, developing new models of public administration, and clarifying and stabilizing the political status of the territories.
Strategic Management or Environmental Change
Authors: Barr Donald A.
Published: March 2007

It is often difficult in complex organizational systems for managers to attribute accurately changes in organizational performance to changes in management strategy. In this case study of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Health Care System, managers attributed improvement in patient enrollment to strategic action taken earlier to improve patient satisfaction. Empirical data demonstrate that changes in patient enrollment were actually due to changes in the market for medical care external to Kaiser and out of the control of Kaiser managers. Subsequent problems in the Kaiser system may have been worsened by this earlier misattribution. It is important for health care managers to appreciate the difficulty in linking strategic action to changes in organizational performance.
Method
Authors: Miller Hugh T.
Published: March 2007

Kenneth Hansen’s methodological disciplining of Fox and Miller’s warrants for discourse is a worthy aspiration, but at what point do we hand over too much to method? This implicit and sometimes explicit expectation—that method will yield an objective perspective on any public policy discourse—will not be realized. The understandable desire to overcome observer bias will be forever unfulfilled in the social sciences. Biases, backgrounds, socialization processes, educational experiences, personal histories, and so forth can be acknowledged and dealt with but not transcended. To claim that one actually occupies a bias-free platform (by virtue of one’s methods) is an overbearing claim, indeed, and one that cannot be backed up.
An Investigation of Academic Self-Concept and its Relationship to Academic Achievement in African American College Students
Authors: Cokley Kevin
Published: March 2007

This study examined the academic self-concept construct in a sample of 206 African American students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and predominantly White colleges and universities (PWCUs). Institutional, gender, and class status (i.e., year in college) differences in academic self-concept were investigated as well as factors that predict academic self-concept. Participants completed the Academic Self-Concept Scale. Findings indicated that the best predictor of academic self-concept for students attending PWCUs was grade point average, whereas the best predictor of academic self-concept for students attending HBCUs was quality of student-faculty interactions. Additional analyses indicated that grade point average is significantly more important for the academic self-concept of African American students attending PWCUs than African American students attending HBCUs. Implications for psychologists are discussed.
Revising and Improving the African American Acculturation Scale
Authors: Klonoff Elizabeth A. , Landrine Hope
Published: March 2007

The African American Acculturation Scale (AAAS) was revised and improved with a sample of 520 African American adults. Items that some participants in prior studies found objectionable were dropped, and a new version of the scale was created by factor analyzing the remaining items. The revised AAAS (AAAS-R) consists of 47 items that no participant has objected to; these comprise eight new, empirically derived subscales (i.e., factors) that have high reliability and validity and correlate r = .97 with the original 74-item version of the scale. It is strongly recommended that researchers interested in studying acculturation among African Americans use this new version of the scale.
Batswana 1 Adolescents’ Interpretation of American Music Videos: So that’s What that Means!
Authors: Lloyd Blake Te’Neil , Mendez Julia L.
Published: March 2007

Understanding the impact of mass media communication from developing countries on Black populations continues to be an important research topic. This study assessed the impact of television, specifically, music video programming from the United States, on 191 Black adolescents from Botswana, a developing country located in southern Africa. Results indicated that television programming originating in America has a significant impact on the Batswana youth, with greater than two thirds of adolescents having weekly exposure to this form of American culture. However, the majority of African youth failed to demonstrate accurate perceptions of culture-specific language and images contained in the music videos. Findings also suggest that American entertainment figures are replacing the influence of African entertainers on the Batswana youth. Relations between media technology and shifts in cultural values of developing countries are discussed.
Attributional Style and Its Relationship to Self-Esteem and Academic Performance in Black Students
Authors: Belgrave Faye Z. , Johnson Reginald S. , Carey Carole
Published: March 2007

The types of casual attributions made regarding successful and unsuccessful life events are related to a number of variables including depression and self-esteem. High self- esteem individuals tend to internalize their success outcomes and externalize their failure outcomes more than do low self-esteem individuals. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the relationship between attri butional style and self-esteem and attributional style and academic performance in Black high school and college students. The results indicated that an internal attributional style for negative events was negatively associated with self-esteem. A stable attributional style for negative events was negatively associated with academic performance. An internal attributional style for positive events was negatively associated with academic performance. It was concluded that attributional style can be useful for understanding self- esteem and academic performance in this population.
Increases in Cancer Rates Among Blacks
Authors: Hall Howard , Bell Xyna
Published: March 2007

The recent increases in cancer rates among Blacks in the United States and in other countries is examined. Black males have the highest rates, but at one time had lower rates than White males. Levy's (1983) model is employed to examine direct and indirect psychological and behavioral risk factors that might explain racial differences in the initiation and progression of cancer. Differences are noted and suggestions for needed research, including a Black Studies perspective of this issue, are offered.
Race and Family Structure Stereotyping: Perceptions of Black and White Nuclear Families and Stepfamilies
Authors: Bryant Z. Lois , Coleman Marilyn , Ganong Lawrence H.
Published: March 2007

Previous studies of stereotyping have established that family structure is a cue by which individuals are stereotyped. This study builds on earlier work by adding the variables of race of respondent, family race, and parents' marital status to the analysis and by presenting family units (i.e., stepfamily, nuclear family) rather than family roles (e.g., stepmother, mother) as the trigger to elicit stereotypes. The sample consisted of 308 White and 178 Black students. Race of respondent and family structure of the stimulus families were significant; Black respondents in general rated families more positively, and the White stepfamily was rated less positively than were Black step or Black or White nuclear families. Parents' marital status and the family race of the vignette stimulus were not significant. There were also two sigificant two-way interactions (i.e., race of respondent by vignette family structure; and vignette family structure by vignette family race) and one significant three-way interaction (i.e., race by vignette family race by vignette family structure). Findings are discussed in terms of stereotyping theory.
A Preliminary Study on Improving Tutoring Skills among Black Inner-City Children
Authors: Thomas Nathaniel , Jason Leonard A.
Published: March 2007

This study was conducted at a youth organization that provided academic tutoring for inner-city grade school children. Tutors were trained to use social reinforcement; behavioral observations were made during baseline, training, and follow-up phases. The behaviors of interest were tutor approving, disapproving, and attending behaviors. Each tutor took part in six individual training sessions. After training, all three tutors showed increases in their use of social reinforcement during tutoring. Specific issues involving training minority tutors in ways that are consistent with cultural values are discussed.
Courtship Violence among African American College Students
Authors: Clark M. L. , Beckett Joyce , Wells Mabel , Dungee-Anderson Delores
Published: March 2007

This study explored the relationship between family interactions, personality variables, and courtship violence. African American college students who were dating were administered the Conflict Tactics Scale and a series of other measures. Findings indicate that more than half of the Afncan Americanfemales and males had insulted, refused to talk to, or made spiteful comments to a dating partner Females reported using more physical violence against a dating partner than did males. The studyfound the perception of the dating partner's behavior to be more important than any other variable in determining whether violence is used to resolve conflict in dating relationships. The article discusses how these findings compare to other courtship violence research and concludes with implications for clinical practice.
The Kindred Fields of Black Liberation Theology and Liberation Psychology: A Critical Essay on their Conceptual Base and Destiny
Authors: Azibo Daudi Ajani ya
Published: March 2007

The field of liberation psychology, an appellation for one of the more salient aspects of African (Black) psychology, is discussed in light of its theoretical and actual kindredness with the field of Black liberation theology. These two fields are so strikingly similar in their origin, essence, and contemporary unfolding that analogizing them yielded 15 points of comparison that are nontrivial to the establishment of each one. Because it is argued that Black liberation theology is fundamentally a failure, the question of how liberation psychology-African (Black) psychology-can avoid this same failure, which is in the offing, is addressed. How Black liberation theology can right itself is pointed out as well.
African American College Students' Psychosocial Development as Related to Care Arrangements during Infancy
Authors: Morrison Johnetta Wade , Ispa Jean M. , Thornburg Kathy R.
Published: March 2007

Associations were explored between the present emotional and social development of low-and middle-income African American male and female college students and the substitute care arrangements (none, part time, orfull time) they experienced as infants. The students who had experienced full-time substitute care scored signiflcantly higher on several subscales (Friendship, Identity, and Self-Confidence) of the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI) than students who had experienced part-time substitute care. The students who had received no substitute care scored higher on two subscales of the EPSI than students who had experienced part-time substitute care as infants. There were no significant differences between full-time and no-substitute-care recipients. The experience of substitute care arrangements during infancy did not appear to have effects that reach into early adulthood.
Black Racial Identity Attitudes and Stages of the Life Span: An Exploratory Investigation
Authors: Plummer Deborah L.
Published: March 2007

This article explores the construction of Black racial identity attitudes during three stages of the life span. Participants were 476 African Americans between the ages of 14 and 59. Each completed the Racial Identity Attitude Scale-B (RIAS-B) and a demographic survey. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed pattern differences across age groups, with the young adulthood stage differing from adolescence and middle adulthood. A correlation analysis revealed that the older the respondents were, the less likely they were to endorse immersion attitudes (strong attachment to Black culture and its expression). Adolescents reported predominantly internalization attitudes (racial expressions of comfort) mirroring almost exactly the middle-adulthood group. Young adults reportedpredominantly encounterattitudes (experiencing a critical incident regarding race). These findings point to the imperative needfor longitudinal racial identity studies and contemporary measurements of racial identity attitudes. Heterogeneity in expression of Black racial identity attitudes is emphasized, andaprocess-oriented approach to multicultural training is recommended.
Children's Perceptions of Black English as a Variable in Intraracial Perception
Authors: Koch Lisa M. , Gross Alan
Published: March 2007

The purpose of the present investigation is to examine African American children 's perceptions of those African Americans who use Black English (BE) in contrast to those who use Standard English (SE). Previous studies examining adult perceptions revealed that as middle-class African Americans move more toward the mainstream of American culture, their perceptions of African Americans who speak BE have become more negative. However, previous research with children indicates that children may in fact view BE as more positive than SE. In the present study, African American male and female junior high students were exposed to an audiotaped male speaking in either BE or SE. Participants were then asked to rate the speaker on a numberofpersonality characteristics. Results indicated that contrary to the literature with African American adults, African American children rated the BE model as more likable and competent than the SE model.
African American Men’s Personal Sense of Mastery: The Consequences of the Adolescent Environment, Self-Concept, and Adult Achievement
Authors: Mizell C. André
Published: March 2007

Using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the objective of this article is to examine which factors over the life course contribute to African American males’personal sense of mastery. Although adolescent poverty does not appear to hamper the adult mastery of African American men, results show that consequential adolescent variables are parental educational attainment, region of origin, self-esteem, and educational aspirations. The analysis also suggests that current adult achievement (e.g., educational attainment and earnings) is also a significant determinant of adult mastery in African American males. This finding indicates that, despite the absence of economic and interpersonal resources in adolescence, African American males may be able to compensate for such deprivation through individual achievement—which directly affects personal mastery.
There is no Shame in Pain: Coping and Functional Ability in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Robinson M. Renee
Published: March 2007

Despite the tremendous resilience of children with sickle cell anemia, this chronic illness has a significant impact in adaptation in every major area of functioning—personal care, emotional, recreational, educational, and vocational. Assessment of functional ability may help us to develop a fuller understanding of the relationships among illness severity, pain, physical dysfunction, and psychosocial adjustment in this group. A major challenge in the assessment of sickle cell disease (SCD) pain still lies in finding a reliable behavior referent of pain. Unlike the experience in other pain states (procedure-related pain), physical impairment and functional disability are salient characteristics in chronic SCD pain and, therefore, may contribute significantly to evaluations of pain states (pain ratings, pain characteristics, and pain quality). This article seeks to explore the utility of functional ability as an index of pain and pain behavior in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia.
Developing Positive Attitudes for Life in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Lam Judy , Winter Sam
Published: March 2007

Amodified version of Chapman's 'Thought Power' programme was used with regular Hong Kong secondary school students. A randomly selected group of students took part in a ten session 'Thought Power' programme organized in their school. The programme focused on stress identification, awareness of the role of thoughts in creating feelings, relaxation, awareness of automatic thoughts that are harmful and helpful, emotional versus physical pain, modification of automatic thoughts, problem-solving and alternative goal setting. Data on harmful thoughts, helpful thoughts, stress, general well-being and locus of control all revealed positive benefits for involvement in the 'Thought Power' programme. These benefits were evident in pre-test post-test comparisons for the project group, as well as in post-test comparisons between the project group and a comparison group. Several comparisons of each type were statistically significant. The findings suggest a role for such programmes in the regular school, and with regular (nonproblem) students.
Parents as Reading Tutors for First Graders in Brazil
Authors: Murad C. R. , Topping Keith J.
Published: March 2007

This study was a controlled evaluation of the use of the Paired Reading (PR) technique with first grade children and their parents in Brazil. Control group children took books home to read with their parents, but had no PR training. Although similar at pre-test, Paired Reading children were significantly superior in comprehension at post-test, especially in relation to the deeper complexities of the logical sequence and meaning of the text. Autonomous reading fluencyalso appeared to be higher for the Paired Reading group. The subjective feedback from experimental parents, teachers and children was very positive. There were indications that the affective and self-efficacy components of PR were particularly important, and that the intervention helped to alter the conceptualisation, ethos and practices of education in the home.
Problem Areas in the Relationship of School Psychologists and Teachers
Authors: Smilansky J.
Published: March 2007

School psychologists have become increasingly involved in working with teachers instead of, or in addition to, their more traditional role of providing clinically oriented services to children. This trend has been justified on both economical and professional grounds. The article highlights potential problems that are inherent in this shift in work focus by describing issues that stem from differences in personal characteristics of the two professions; problems that result from characteristics of their mutual work setting; and finally, difficulties that relate to the process of choosing the nature of the psychological intervention. Describing potential problems is not meant to discourage psychologists from working with teachers but rather to increase sensitivity to potential difficulties in order to improve the quality of their mutual work.
The Prospects for Psychology in Indian Schools
Authors: Paliwal T. R.
Published: March 2007

From nursery school to senior secondary school, there is no position of school psychologist on the academic staff in the present school system in India. Among subject-teachers, the school psychologist is out of place because psychology as a course of study does not exist to high school level. Leaving apart the teaching of psychology, school psychologists do not exist to whom students affected by psychological problems could be referred for behaviour modification, relieving emotional disturbances, solving the learning difficulties of the learning disabled, or structuring and using special educational techniques for the mentally retarded.
Predicting Grade 1 Success with a Selected Kindergarten Screening Battery
Authors: Weerdenburg Genia , Janzen Henry L.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this investigation was to identify the best combination of tests or subtests in a psychoeducational screening battery which would predict kindergarten children's Grade 1 achievement. The subjects were 48 male and 37 female kindergarten children. The predictor variables in the test battery were: pupil rating scale (PRS), test of visual-motor integration (VMI), visual aural digit span test (VADS), human figure drawing (HFD), Evanston Early Identification Scale (EEIS), Bender Gestalt Test (Bender) and 'global' teacher rating in kindergarten (TRK). The criterion measures were: reading (report card mark), mathematics (report card mark), a 'global' teacher rating in Grade 1 (TR1) and the Metropolitan Readiness Test (MRT). Correlation and stepwise regression analysis indicated that (a) different subsets of the predictor variable best predicted each of the criterion measures; (b) the total VADS score is the contributory variable for the reading report card mark; (c) the 'global' teacher rating in kindergarten is effective in predicting academic readiness; (d) the VMI is contributory to measuring academic readiness; (e) the Bender did not contribute a significant amount to the prediction of academic readiness; (f) the PRS verbal score can be used with a kindergarten population; and (g) the human figure drawings have little predictive significance in a screening battery.
Screening for Counselling in an English Education Authority
Authors: Cowell David
Published: March 2007

In spite of the considerable interest which has been shown in the use of screening procedures, and the increasing use of at least some counselling techniques by teaching staff concerned with pastoral care, the notion of devising a screening procedure to identify pupils who may benefit from help seems to have attracted surprisingly little attention. Even the multitude of studies of disruption in schools and how it might be managed have indicated few positive steps in this direction.
Time-Contracting Educational Psychologists' Visits to Secondary Schools Working at Making it Work
Authors: Phillips Paul
Published: March 2007

This article outlines the rationale forwarded by UK practitioners for incorporating Time-Contracting into their system of service delivery. It draws upon the author's experience of establishing a Time-Contracting service to nine secondary schools within a UK Local Authority Psychology Service. It identifies some obstacles and critical steps in making the system work and outlines some useful strategies for overcoming these. In so doing it illustrates how this method of working requires that educational psychologists clarify their professional activities in secondary schools so that school and psychologist can decide together how visits will be managed in the pursuance of mutually agreed tasks.
Direct Instruction Spelling
Authors: Winter Sam , Glenville Elizabeth , Lendrumc Ann
Published: March 2007

Direct instruction approaches to the teaching of English spelling skills are described and evaluated. Two commercially available direct instruction spelling programmes (Spelling Mastery and Corrective Spelling through Morphographs) are outlined. Two Hong Kong projects utilizing these programmes are described; one in a primary school and the other in a secondary school. The results indicate that these programmes are effective in improving the spelling skills of pupils in mainstream schools who are of average to below average spelling ability. There is evidence to suggest that the programmes are most successful with pupils who are low-performing spellers relative to their peers.