Reprints may be obtained from Dr. Michael Lewis, Center for Psychological Studies, Educational Testing Service, Princeton, N.J. 08540. (AP)

The paradigm of theoretical behaviorism which rests on the premise of a passive organism is discussed. It is argued that the learning-theory movement promoted scientific understanding of the active organism which, in an ideological sense, it tended to deny. (MS)

Explored relation between self-efficacy ratings and smoking behavior among 36 people who were trying to quit smoking on their own. Self-efficacy ratings were significantly related to the outcome of self-monitored high-risk situations, with subjects reporting higher self-efficacy ratings after situations in which they did not smoke as opposed to…

Studied 47 women treated for early gynecologic cancer, 18 women treated for benign gynecologic disease, and 57 gynecologically healthy women. Found that frequency of intercourse declined for women treated for disease, whether malignant or benign. Diminution of sexual excitement was pronounced for women with disease; more severe and distressing for…

Examines some of the effective ingredients of change in multimodal counseling with children: personal relationships; emotions; guidance of actions, behaviors, and consequences; imagery; health; learning; and need to know. (ABL)

Background: Psychosocial stress maintains cigarette use and precipitates relapse, but little is known about how natural disasters in particular affect smoking. Purpose: To determine the feasibility of recruiting victims soon after a natural disaster for a survey study, and to assess the types and determinants of changes in smoking behavior…

Purpose: This paper seeks to explore the theoretical bases for teacher-delivered and peer-delivered sexual health promotion and education. Design/methodology/approach: The first section briefly outlines the main theories informing sexual health interventions for young people, and the second discusses their implications for modes of delivery.…

Purpose: This study aims to examine the question of how long a behavioral skills training program should be in order to result in measurable behavioral change. Design/methodology/approach: An empirical field study was conducted to compare two different lengths of time for a managerial skills training program aimed at achieving behavioral change.…

Contemporary testing standards place test purpose as the central focus during test development and subsequent use. This study describes the development of a measure for children designed explicitly to measure change resulting from psychosocial interventions. Parents completed the outcome measure for 896 elementary school-age children receiving…

Health education can offer a valuable window onto conceptual and behavioral change. In Study 1, we mapped out 3rd-grade Chinese children's beliefs about causes of colds and flu and ways they can be prevented. We also explored older adults' beliefs as a possible source of the children's ideas. In Study 2, we gave 3rd- and 4th-grade Chinese children…

Objective: The authors examined the effect of certified personal trainer services on exercise behavior by using the transtheoretical model of behavioral change. Participants: Female college students (n = 449) completed surveys during the first week (T1) and last week (T2) of the fall semester. Methods: Students receiving personal trainer services…

Previous research has demonstrated that parenting programmes can be an effective intervention in changing behaviour and parent-child interactions. However, less attention has been given to the impact of these programmes in relation to improving attendance and behaviour at school. Lynne Rogers, lecturer in teacher education specialising in the…