Analysis of questionnaires completed by 112 young adolescents showed that frequency of conflict was significantly related to ratings of the friend's importance and satisfaction with the friendship, but was not related to sibling relationship ratings. Developmental implications of relationship differences in interpersonal conflict are discussed,…

Offers one librarian's inspirational thoughts on the value of library work: community service, clash of values, intellectual freedom, public good, love of books and libraries, the beauty of small libraries, modern budgets, librarian image, the ideal library, a favorite librarian, the solace of knowledge, the value of silence, and reminders of…

Attempts to clarify the nature of power and the distinction between individuals empowered by the existing system and those struggling for freedom by changing the system. Challenges the notion of freedom and emancipation being attained through personal transformation. (SK)

Three experiments examined the early development of three- to five-year-old children's analysis of spatial patterns. Found that the youngest children segmented out simple, well-formed, spatially independent parts and used simple relational structures to bind these parts together, whereas older children constructed forms that included increasingly…

Responses from 83 of 120 British midwives showed that motivation for continuing education was strongest in regard to professional competence and innate desire for knowledge, less in regard to legal requirements for practice. Strongest motivators were internal and learning related. Social integration was the least important aspect of continuing…

Community houses play a significant role in adult education in New Zealand, but struggle with limited resources and marginal status. Their general aim is to create a sense of community based on positive self-development. (SK)

Offers a brief outline of Buddhist psychology as it relates to the student-teacher relationship. Outlines a classroom process to help students and teachers learn about their inner obstacles to the teacher-student relationship and to develop classroom trust. (SR)

Notes that most of the inmates with literacy difficulties had a background, from infancy and onwards, characterized by severe social and emotional problems, interfering with positive experience of literacy and the literate culture. Concludes that it is unlikely that dyslexia is a determining factor of delinquent behavior. (SG)

Investigates how psychotherapists define, cope with, and treat difficult patients. Explains the psychology of difficult clients, techniques psychologists use in working with them, and how these might be utilized by librarians, and emphasizes the importance of seeing difficult clients as a means of personal growth. (Author/LRW)

Compares Piaget's and Vygotsky's interpretations of transmission and transformation. Notes that differences are apparent in the preformation of knowledge, availability of a third alternative to nature and culture, and unity and identity in social interaction. Vygotsky was concerned about the novel transformation of the learner; Piaget, with the…

Reviews literature on biophilia hypothesis that children have fundamental, genetically based propensity to affiliate with other living organisms. Identifies three concerns: (1) genetic basis of biophilia; (2) existence of seemingly negative affiliations with nature; and (3) quality of supporting evidence. Presents structural-developmental approach…

Proposes a variant of mental model theory which suggests that the development of conditional reasoning (if--then) can be explained by such factors as the capacity of working memory, range of knowledge available to a reasoner, and his/her ability to access this knowledge "on-line." Finds much empirical data explained by this model.…

Examined memory in 8- to 12-year-olds classified as either strategic or non-strategic on a sort-recall pretest. Found, at the end of 11 weeks, that changes to strategic behavior occurred suddenly rather than gradually. Once children began using organizational strategies, recall improved immediately. Deliberate strategy use was reflected in sorting…

Analyzes the dimensions and manifestations of identity development embedded within commonly used instruments measuring student identity development. To this end, a content analysis of ten identity assessment tools was conducted to determine the assumptions about identity development contained therein. Findings suggest the importance of determining…

Draws upon a longitudinal study of four undergraduate student writers and focuses on the progress of one of them. Questions assumptions that confuse skills assessment with the measurement of academic and personal development. Argues for a broader view of writing development and a teaching approach that fosters it. (SG)