There were initial positive effects from delegating choice over the selection of goals. The aspect of the task being delegated appears important. One cannot assume allowing others choice over some aspects of the task will be associated with positive outcomes. (Author)

The central idea behind this study is that at about seven years of age the concept of normative difficulty emerges, resulting in changes in interpretation of terms such as "hard" and "easy," as well as of normative cues. (Author/DB)

Age and sex of the applicant had little impact on attitudinal items. Competent and hired applicants were rated significantly more positively. There was a significant age by hiring interaction on the attribution items. Stable factors were used more often to explain the failures of the old. (Author)

Studies the effects of childhood achievement experiences as they might determine generalized internal-external control orientations (I-E). Analysis of I-E items revealed that those who performed poorly were most likely to attribute achievement experiences to luck. (Author)

Investigated causal inferences between leader reward behavior and subordinate goal attainment, absenteeism, and work satisfaction. Results revealed that no significant differences were attributed to sex and that the leader reward behavior and subordinate attitudes and behavior were independent of the effects of sex of supervisor or subordinate.…

Investigated the relationship between self-esteem and performance outcome as related to causal attribution. Results indicated that: (1) success was attributed more to ability and effort; (2) performance outcomes consistent with self-esteem were attributed more to ability and task difficulty; and (3) performance outcomes inconsistent with…

High-, average-, and low-achieving boys and girls in the first and third grades were compared on their expectations for success prior to an anagrams task; their subsequent perceptions of the cause of failure on the task; and their expectations for future success. Findings are discussed. (Author/GK)

Children from various cultural backgrounds were assessed for hyperkinesis using a behavioral rating scale in order to determine whether perceived socioeconomic status and ethnic identification of assessees would influence judgement. Lower socioeconomic and ethnic minority children were rated as being more hyperkinetic than middle class and…

The article explores attribution theory and the concept of learned helplessness in teaching learning disabled individuals. Suggestions are given for areas of future research with learning disabled populations. The discussion includes current teaching techniques which may be related to the self regulatory behaviors and perception of personal…

Investigates the hypothesis that willingness to help another person depends on the cause of the person's need and that the relationship between attribution and helping is mediated by affect and expectancy of future need. Subjects were 40 male and 40 female undergraduate students. (Author/SS)

Examined the relationship between locus of control and death anxiety. The Reid-Ware Three Factor Locus of Control Scale and Templer Death Anxiety Scale were administered to college students aged 17 to 49. Death anxiety loaded significantly on the Fatalism dimension for males and on the Social System Control dimension for females. (Author/BWF)

Investigates the relationship between task persistence, locus of control, self-reinforcement, and specific expectancies in elementary school children. (CM)

Lack of agreement between teachers and parents in assessing the symptoms of hyperkinesis in children was demonstrated by Langhorne, Loney, Paternite, and Bechtoldt. Zukow, Zukow, and Bentler recently criticized that investigation. Results of a separate analysis of data of Langhorne et al. confirmed the original findings. (Author)

Suggests that the same developmental trend of fears that appears in normal children appears in the retarded, and that these fears follow Piagetian theory, proceeding from egocentric perceptions of causality to realistic cause, and effect thinking. (RL)

In an investigation using children experiencing reading difficulties, procedures involving partial reinforcement and attribution retraining were assessed in terms of their relative effectiveness in developing reading persistence. (Editor)