The principal task of this book was to examine some of the research evidence concerning the relation between personality and school achievement. Its source was the empirical research which bears on this issue rather than the various theories of personality. The reason for this was that the implications of many theories of personality for…

A modified iterative factor analytic method was applied to item responses of 346 male students in four community colleges in order to construct three experimental scales for the measure of motivation. A fourth scale, which appears to be a measure of goal-deficiency, was also developed. The four scales--tentatively identified as Intrinsic…

Recent research by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium has led to the development of a resiliency model that helps explain why some at-risk students actually do well in school. The recent investigations have determined that some students develop traits that enable them to be successful in school. The model suggests that four…

Noting that the protective factors that support positive child development despite adversity are becoming better understood, this workbook discusses the importance of encouraging resilience in preschool children living in challenging circumstances and shows how to evaluate resilience through the use of checklists and background information. The…

The psychological factors associated with paranursing expertise were examined in a study of 135 certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at a geriatric nursing facility in Amarillo, Texas. Data were collected through a project-developed screening tool called the Geriatric Employee Screening Tool (GEST), which is a true-false instrument patterned after…

This book provides practical help for parents to enhance their toddler's growth and development. Chapter 1, "The Importance of Being Two," explains why toddlerhood is the best time for providing an emotional foundation. Chapter 2, "The Young Child's Brain and Mind," discusses how recent findings on brain development have…

Evaluates the measurement equivalence of an English-language version of the Trier Personality Inventory, using statistical methods based on item response theory to identify items displaying differential item functioning (DIF). Results with 295 U.S. and 213 West German undergraduates and 203 U.S. college students indicate significant agreement in…

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been widely used as an objective personality test, in addition to being used in forensic assessments, especially involving claims of physical or emotional damage. It now appears that questions must be raised concerning the MMPI's forensic implications given the advent of new disease…

Features of everyday conceptions of a "wise person" were examined, based on a model of wisdom-related knowledge (Baltes & Smith, 1990). The goal was to examine whether the psychological theory underlying this model is consistent with lay conceptions of wisdom, and whether everyday conceptions contain additional features not contained…

This guidebook is designed to be used in implementing comprehensive prevention programs for children and youth in schools and communities. The primary goals of this planning guide are: provide educators and communities with a prevention model that will help them facilitate the implementation of effective comprehensive programs; provide a framework…

Identifying correlates of health behavior is an important step both for understanding and modifying health behavior. This study examined five personality factors (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) and three dimensions of health locus of control (Internal, Powerful Others, Chance) as correlates of…

The purpose of this study was to analyze select personality characteristics of individuals working within the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) population in comparison to non-AIDS caregivers by using two personality assessment instruments. Subjects were from two health care provider populations. Two hundred research packets were…

An overview of the history of adolescent runaway behavior indicates that it has become a social and psychological problem of significant proportions. This study investigated the use of a personality measure that was hypothesized to be representative of a cluster of behaviors associated with running away. The study also sought to determine a…

Many fundamental questions about the functional meaning of resilience remain to be answered. There are many different approaches to resilience. Some studies have described functional characteristics of children who demonstrate resilience, while other studies have looked to the temperament of the child and characteristics of the environment to find…

This exploratory study attempted to assess the effects of the personal characteristics of career stage, job involvement, having been previously mentored, and sex on whether or not individuals act as mentors themselves and the type of mentoring support (career or psychosocial) provided to mentees. Data were collected from 140 university faculty…