Examines the influences of behaviorist psychology on performance and instruction technologies. The basic assumptions of behaviorism are outlined, reinforcing contingencies are reviewed, conditioning is described, and such specific topics as stimulus control, behavior chaining, and successive approximation are discussed. (Author/JL)

Investigated whether activities such as theater games, role playing, and dramatic play would increase college students' self-confidence, self-worth, spontaneity, and ability to relate with others. Found that these activities increased self-confidence and spontaneity. Concluded that creative dramatic courses can help students discover or develop…

Supports the hypothesis that interaction processes connected with the Valence Distribution Model mediated the effect of decision schemes on group decisions. Substantiates the assumptions that interaction is a crucial factor in group decision making. Although input conditions may also have an impact on decision outcomes, they are mediated by…

Found that college students are motivated to participate in debate to fulfill the following broad range of needs: educational, social, competitive, career preparation, miscellaneous, and financial. Results of this study suggest that educational motivations are clearly more important than competitive needs. (PD)

Discusses the increasing concern of Congress toward its function of oversight (congressional review of the actions of federal departments, agencies, and commissions, and of the programs and policies they administer). Notes factors which promote and increase the quality of oversight and analyzes trends in congressional committee oversight behavior.…

Presents a research study investigating the effects of specific dimensions of managerial behavior and interpersonal style on information-sharing norms and the subordinate's use of interpersonal communication channels. (JMF)

Reports on a study which sought to determine the effect of family tactile history on attitude toward touch in public, and the relationship between this tactile history and the frequency of public touching behavior. (Author/AM)

There are many opportunities for research on how self-assessment affects behavior, especially external and internal mobility. Problems often occur in choice of ability dimensions and selection context. A firm theoretical base is necessary. (JAC)

The evidence presented suggests that students in their first year of comprehensive school education in physics and biology did not display any increase in their interest in these subjects during the academic year. It is unknown how best to help girls towards a favorable interest in physical science. (Author/KC)

Junior and senior high school science teachers in six school districts were asked to rank 80 classroom-teacher behavior items in order of importance. Three basic types of teachers were found from the rankings. (MP)

Effect size is the degree of treatment effect in experimental research and is considered in relationship to power, significance criterion, and sample size. Effect size is useful in assessing meaningfulness of statistically significant research results. Its use as a discriminator between "meaningful" and "trivial" treatment effects is considered.…

Describes a study testing Korman's Model of Work Behavior which hypothesized that individuals will seek out and be satisfied with those roles that are most consistent with their self-evaluations or self-cognitions. The results of the study, which involved 96 managers, showed moderate support for Korman's thesis. (Author/LLS)

Reviews nonverbal behavior research which reveals a recurrent theme of greater politeness and accommodation by women rather than men in the encoding and decoding of nonverbal cues. These findings complement a large literature on sex differences which suggests that women are more emotionally expressive, sensitive, supportive, and accommodating than…

The study sought to identify some of the variables controlling the severely aggressive behavior of two severely retarded children (ages 9 and 14). Experiments conducted under various conditions showed that, while aggressive behaviors sometimes serve as an escape function, the behaviors can be terminated through reduction of the causative situation…

All couples demonstrated parity in pleasurable behavior exchange rates. High-adjustment couples reported increased marital happiness following self-monitoring of pleasurable events. Low-adjustment spouses underestimated pleasurable behavior rates by approximately 50%. (Author)