Discusses a misconception about the cycloid that asserts the final point on the path of shortest time in the "Brachistochrone" problem is at the lowest point on the cycloid. Uses a BASIC program for Newton's method to determine the correct least-time cycloid. (MDH)

This study assessed child maltreatment group differences in 530 families receiving intensive family preservation services based on the HOMEBUILDERS model. Results indicated that neglectful families, compared to abusive ones, were poorer and more likely to be headed by a single parent, to have mental health and substance abuse problems, and to have…

Presents a critique of published learner control studies that highlights problems with definitions of learner control, theoretical foundations, treatment duration, outcome measures, sample sizes, and conclusions. Recommendations are made concerning the exploration of alternative models for research focused on learner control and other aspects of…

Describes the methodology for teaching cognitive self-direction (CSD) to preservice teachers, presenting an overview of the CSD model. The CSD curriculum model includes productive strategies such as modeling plus self-verbalization (goal-setting, guiding, and reinforcing behaviors). Benefits to preservice teacher education include improved lesson…

The TRIFOCAL Model for curing underachievement syndrome is presented and is related to the Future Problem Solving (FPS) program, specifically the steps that involve changing expectations, role model identification, and changing reinforcements at school. A case study is presented of an underachieving sixth grade student who became actively engaged…

A two-year study of four effective secondary school principals suggests that a principal's actions can be represented by a value-based model (or Markov chain) in which beliefs and values lead to goals, activities, and outcomes. Findings show that no one value set brings about more effective leadership than another. (27 references) (MLH)

Results give considerable support to the hypothesis that most of the relation between marital conflict and adolescent adjustment problems can be explained by perturbations in the parent-child relationship. Results also suggest that mediational patterns are different for intact and divorced families, and that the model used best fits the context of…

This study examined whether a "goodness of fit" theoretical model (applied to 53 families with and 62 families without children with learning disabilities) might help in understanding children's school performance. For both groups, children rated as a "poor fit" in the home demonstrated poorer classroom behavior and poorer achievement over the…

A sample of 459 American Evaluation Association members was surveyed about ethical challenges they encountered in evaluation work. Respondents report a wide variety of ethical conflicts, with evaluators frequently pressured to compromise their roles as scientists and the evaluation product. A framework is proposed for interpreting these findings.…

Considers three treatment approaches when working with children of rage: psychodynamic, behavioral, and peer-group models. Discusses approaches in sequence, following chronology of author's own experiences in psychodynamic, behavioral, and peer-group programs. Illustrates how each approach presents unique pitfalls in practice. (NB)

Describes a theoretical framework of distributed representations to explore the representational properties in group problem solving. The experiment shows that different distributed representations across two individuals produced dramatically different group problem-solving behaviors; and two minds could be better than one mind, depending on how…

A study of grade 7 boys (n=6) and girls (n=4) investigated how students model ideas while designing and making. Analysis of video recordings identified five differences between modeling as described in the literature and as used by the subjects. The results suggest a need for students to model ideas in three-dimensional form early in the design…

The hypothesis that family rigidity has an indirect effect on adolescent suicidal ideation through its effect on adolescent problem-solving deficits was evaluated among college students and their parents. Structural equation models confirmed the hypothesis. Directions for treatment efforts are discussed. (Author/EMK)

Explores the utility of mental models as learning outcomes in using complex and situated learning environments. Describes two studies: one aimed at eliciting mental models in the heads of novice refrigeration technicians, and the other an ethnographic study eliciting knowledge and models within the community of experienced refrigeration…

There is no single best decision-making approach. This article reviews and compares six contemporary models (classical, administrative, incremental, mixed-scanning, garbage-can, and political) and develops a framework and 10 propositions to match strategies with circumstances. A contingency approach suggests that administrators use satisficing (a…