Educators and museum evaluators are attempting to understand the influence science museums have upon science education and the kinds of learning experiences visitors have in the multisensory, informal learning environments of science museums. The problem investigated in this study involved the effectiveness of the exhibit interpreter. The study…

Hyperactive children appear to be at an increased risk for antisocial behavior in life. Follow-up studies using self-report and official criminal data have found that hyperactive children are more likely than controls to commit crimes, to be arrested for crimes, to be convicted of crimes, and to be diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder in…

In learning a language as a means of communication, children must first coin new word-forms to express meanings for words they do not yet know. Children learn at an early age that lexicon can be used creatively, and that creativity is not simply a matter of learning which word-paradigms are available in the language, but also learning adult…

The relationship between attitudes and behavior has been a topic of considerable debate. Accordingly, this paper reports a meta-analysis of 83 attitude-behavior studies. The analysis suggests that attitudes significantly predict future behavior (combined p<<.000000000001); the average attitude-behavior correlation (ABC) is r=.38. Methodologically,…

Studies on alcohol and aggression have tended to use male subjects and to employ negative shock deliveries as the measure of aggression. This study was conducted to investigate sex differences in alcohol's effect on aggression and to examine the impact of providing both positive and negative response options. Male (N=48) and female (N=48)…

To determine the influence of successful or unsuccessful competitive outcomes and small or large margins of victory/defeat on performance, pairs of female undergraduate students "competed" against each other in a dart tossing contest. False feedback about the outcomes and margin of victory/defeat led subjects to believe they were winning every…

Critical Incident Technique (CIT) involves the collection of real-world examples of behavior that characterize either very effective or very ineffective performance of some activity. The principal advantage of the CIT is that it generates data based on actual behavior rather than on a particular researcher's subjectivity. The CIT has much to offer…

Addressing educators and citing the California Penal Code, this booklet discusses the legal responsibilities of persons in child care situations regarding incidents of suspected child abuse. Included are: (1) a definition of child abuse and neglect; (2) reporting procedures including liability of failure to report and immunity of the reporting…

Homelessness is a significant social problem in the United States, with an estimated 2.5 million homeless people in this country today. While criminal activity may become a means for the homeless to obtain resources needed for basic survival, little is known about the level of criminal activity among the homeless or about the types of crimnal…

The authors describe personal experiences with Usher's Syndrome, a condition involving visual impairment (due to Retinitis Pigmentosa) and deafness. Prevalence and onset of Usher's Syndrome are described along with characteristics of two different types. Problems connected with diagnosis are reviewed, including genetic aspects and the progressive…

Achievement striving is a central dimension of the Type A behavior pattern. To investigate the relationship between Type A behavior pattern, personal performance goals, and goal achievement on two general information tests, 126 undergraduates participated in a two-phase study. First, behavior patterns were assessed using the Framingham Type A…

Studies examining the influence of peer pressure on the drinking behaviors of college students have focused primarily on undergraduates. Very little is known about the drinking patterns of graduate students. To compare drinking patterns of undergraduate and graduate students, 57 college freshmen, 20 sophomores, 24 juniors, 26 seniors, 46 graduate…

The study investigated variation in infant behaviors and maternal responses among dyads with 18 handicapped and 18 normal infants. Mother-infant interaction sessions were videotaped and motor evaluations conducted. Data collected included behavioral ratings of infant affect and of infant looking patterns, ratings of maternal behavior in play with…

This book was written with the aim of helping teachers deal with those behavior problems which are commonly encountered in the classroom and around the school. Part 1 discusses the background to behavior problems, psychological approaches to problem behavior, and factors affecting behavior. The assessment of behavior problems is the topic of Part…

Despite the pervasiveness of computers and daily advances in computer technology, comparatively little is known about the psychological reactions and attitudes that individuals have toward computers. To investigate sex differences in attitudes, beliefs, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and behavioral intentions toward computers, 157 male and 305…