To those who look to technology to enhance a person's quality of life and not merely to restore capability, it is more important and cost effective to consider environmental modifications and the functions of devices within a comprehensive context of varying situations (Milieu characteristics); user interests, needs, capabilities, expectations,…

Although the rate of divorce among older Americans has increased steadily, little attention has been paid to late life divorce. To describe the role of age and other factors which might influence adjustment to divorce in later life, data from a larger pilot study were used: 81 divorced persons over the age of 60 completed in-depth, structured…

Many questions about the associations between risk factors and drug use remain unanswered. Data originally obtained from seventh graders participating in a school-based prevention program were examined in terms of a theoretical model. A series of multiple regression analyses were then conducted to select those risk factors which contributed unique…

The development of a checklist for use in monitoring and evaluating the quality of child care services, and the implications of use of the checklist by day care providers, are discussed. Several research studies that used the indicator checklist model have attempted to determine whether compliance with state child care regulations has a positive…

The influence of financial aid on college student persistence was studied using causal modeling. The study population was 227 full-time freshmen, who enrolled in fall 1982 at a liberal arts college at a large commuter institution. All the students received financial aid. The model, which included background and academic variables, accounted for…

Two unanswered questions about child care are: (1) Does compliance with state child care regulations have a positive impact on children? and (2) Have predictors of program quality been identified? This paper explores a research study and related model that have had some success in answering these questions. Section I, a general introduction,…

Children diagnosed with environmentally based failure to thrive early during their first year of life were seen at 12 and 18 months for assessment of psychological development (cognition, language, symbolic play, and behavior during testing). Based on a transactional model of outcome, factors reflecting biological vulnerability (wasting and…

IQ, social competency, physical abiliites, self-concept, and family demographic data on 73 low-risk preschoolers were used to investigate relationships between family influences and competencies of educationally advantaged children. Preschool attendance, living in a two-parent family, father's occupation, mother's education, family income, and…

Using data collected in 95 Ohio school districts by Brock Hunt, this study reanalyzed those data, examined the reasons for Hunt's inability to predict a school board member incumbent's defeat, and developed a model that would have predicted those Ohio school board elections. Hunt attempted to develop a statistical model of socioeconomic-political…

Data from interviews with elementary school principals are examined for insights into the impact of administrative style on evaluation utilization. Characteristics of 23 principals' administrative styles are classified as being either "compliance" (CO) or "non-compliance" (NCO) oriented. CO principals are characterized by the following: (1)…

Since migration is strongly influenced by economic variables, an economic model was developed to identify, locate, and track migrant and seasonal farmworkers as they move throughout the United States. Focusing on the Florida-based migrant agricultural workers who migrated at least once during the past five years, the model included the following…

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a model of critical thinking ontogeny at the undergraduate levels in a four-year college. Critical thinking ability was considered relative to mental ability, academic performance, and academic preparation for college. Students (N=607) in many disciplinary areas took a battery of tests to…

In 1965 the Court of Appeals of Kentucky ruled that all property should be assessed at 100 percent of fair market value. In compliance with the court decision, the county assessors began reassessing properties in January 1966. A great controversy arose over the new assessment procedures and problems. This study evaluates the results of the 1966…

Eight models for manpower utilization programs were developed that can indicate variables which differentiate successful Manpower Development and Training Act trainees from unsuccessful ones and that suggest program modifications in selection, placement, or services. (Author)

The prediction of students' writing ability by the development of multiple regression models was investigated. Seventy-one essays and scores on the California Language Test by average seventh graders were used. Essays were entered in a modified Project Essay Grade (PEG) computer program. Results for three specific models are presented: (1) overall…