While many educators call for having students use reflective journaling in the classroom as both a way of getting students to engage in content matter and as a way to help the students find some level of personal connection to content material, research shows that many students see reflective journaling as merely busy work and, consequently, fail…

A framework, termed the RSP, is proposed. It is mainly for analyzing and explaining how learning occurs. This framework is grounded in the social-cultural perspective, in particular, in the thinking of both Vygotsky and Popper. Although the thinking of Popper is generally not referred to as having a social-cultural orientation, mostly due to…

This study investigated the level of congruency between scores on the Self-Directed Search--Form R (J. L. Holland, 1994) and scores from an online instrument, both of which measure Holland types (J. L. Holland, 1985, 1997). A reasonably high level of congruence was found. Implications for career counselors are briefly delineated.

ERIKSON'S THEORY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTHY PERSONALITY IS INTEGRATED WITH HOLMES' THEORY OF READING IN ORDER TO DERIVE A TESTABLE HYPOTHESIS REGARDING THE CONTRIBUTION OF SPECIFIED PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS TO READING SUCCESS AND TO VALIDATE THE FINDINGS. THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN THE FOLLOWING THREE PHASES--THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW SCALES…

Erikson's theory on the development of a healthy personality is integrated with Holmes' Theory of Reading in order to derive a testable hypothesis regarding the contribution of specified personality characteristics to reading success and to validate the findings. The study was conducted in the following three phases--the construction of new scales…

A review of the literature on personality as compiled by Adelson, Dahlstrom, Fiske and Pearson suggests that personality theory is a "swamp" through which one must tread carefully. The author recommends these cautions: (1) view carefully personality constructs and polarities from one experimenter which are reported with little regard for their…

Study data supported the hypothesis that A-B status is explicable in personality terms: so-called A-type Ss were characterized by cautious self-expression, social ineptness, and a restricted cognitive scope; B-type Ss appeared socially ascendant and "open" to complex experiences. Also, the variables differentiating A-B statuses appeared to involve…

Studied the early development of inhibited approach through the observation of 48 infants. Subjects (aged 6.5, 10, and 13.5 months) were observed longitudinally as they reached for toys under high- and low-novelty/intensity conditions. Predictions that temperament would affect reaching behavior (with happy children reaching more quickly and…

In this commentary I make three points. First, the four articles presented in this special issue are critical examples of the viability and importance of the idea of childhood personality. Second, I identify several concerns, including the narrow scope of the study of childhood personality, the lack of focus on environmental factors that might…

RESEARCH ON HEREDITARY FACTORS IN NORMAL PERSONALITY TRAITS, AS MEASURED BY INVENTORIES, HAS BEEN LIMITED BY THE FOLLOWING FACTORS--(1) DATA DRAWN FROM ADOLESCENT, NOT ADULT, TWINS, (2) OMISSION OF MENTALLY ILL TWINS, (3) SMALL SIZE OF SAMPLES, (4) VARIABILITY STUDIED ONLY WITHIN FAMILY, (5) SMALL, ISOLATED, UNCOORDINATED STUDIES, AND (6) PROBLEMS…

This study presents results of the testing of personality characteristics of ethnic groups. The significant overall ethnic difference was ordered with the Anglos highest and Indians lowest. (Author)

Applied confirmatory factor analysis in a test of alternative factor models and measurement invariance across gender groups, using data from the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire focusing on shyness, high-intensity pleasure, activity level, attention, irritability, and fear. Found that factor models based on composite indicators showed…

Purpose: The first purpose of this study was to identify and describe teachers' perceptions of intrinsic motivation in classrooms among at-risk adolescent students in 3 model continuation high schools. The second purpose of this study was to identify and describe teacher practices that promote intrinsic motivation among at-risk adolescent students…

Stereotypes and self-perceptions are important in understanding how people develop their self-knowledge and social identity, become members of groups, and view groups and their members. While we have some understanding of the stereotypical view of the physical education teacher, we currently have little knowledge of how physical education…