Surveys of heterosexual college students assessed gender differences in barriers to condom use. Data analysis revealed similar barrier factor structures, though the barriers explained more of the variance in condom use among women than men. Low perceived need was the best predictor of category of condom use for both sexes. (SM)

Describes a study of undergraduates that compared the effectiveness of three instructional delivery systems: printed materials, a computer-based multimedia program, and a multimedia modified intelligent tutoring system. Research variables are discussed, and the effect of repetition of instructional testing material is explored. (Contains 24…

A 3-year study of 203 nondrinking seventh and eighth graders found that 52% had becomes drinkers by tenth or eleventh grade, and that 28% reported getting drunk at least 2 to 4 times per year. The study also found that adolescent attitudes toward alcohol were significant predictors of alcohol use and abuse. (MDM)

Pregnant women completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, and protective service records were reviewed three years later. Of 459 women, 29 had maltreated their children. Neglectful mothers had lower scores on self-esteem, moral self-worth, and personal and social adequacy than nonreported mothers. Both neglectful and physically abusive mothers…

A study of 200 medical students' records at Albany Medical College (New York) found that quantity of science-based undergraduate premedical education, either in its entirety or in subdivisions (specific subjects), did not materially affect performance in preclinical years of medical school. (Author/MSE)

Assessed relationships between early temperament and behavior problems in a longitudinal study of 850 children from age 3 to 15. Temperament dimensions at ages 3 and 5 were correlated in theoretically coherent ways with behavior problems that were independently evaluated by parents and teachers at ages 9 and 11 and by parents as ages 13 and 15.…

Comparison of 72 middle and 72 low socioeconomic status (SES) families of infants with developmental disabilities, on measures of maternal stress and infant development, found that regression analyses predicted 81% of the variance in later developmental level from initial Bayley Mental Age, initial Mental Development Index, SES, initial maternal…

Analysis of studies on predictors of people's attitudes toward gifted education reveals that about 50 variables have been examined as potential sources of differences, but not a single variable emerges as a substantial explanatory factor. Major methodological problems in the studies are identified and proposals for future research are offered.…

This study compared the academic preparation, aspirations, and first-year college performance of first-generation college freshmen with other college freshmen at Indiana State University. It found that first-generation students were more likely to drop out during the first semester and had lower first-semester grades than students with one or more…

Delineates the current consensus regarding the nature and the development of intellectual ability. Examines when one would expect general abilities to moderate the relationship among domain-specific and other processes. Reviews recent studies in which general abilities were used as independent variables or covariates. Suggests that generally,…

An investigation was conducted to determine whether differential predictive validity, as detected in previous studies, exists for a recent sample of 3,703 college students. Results confirmed that the phenomenon still exists. For women, but not minorities, the difference in predictive validity appears related to course selection. (SLD)

Examined the discriminant validity of sexual responses to stories of child sexual assault when told from the point of view of a male perpetrator versus that of a female child victim. Results indicate the relevance of changing deviant preferences and enhancing empathy for the victim while treating child molesters. (RJM)

Addresses the controversy regarding the conceptual overlap between difficult child temperament and behavior problems using treatment outcome study data. Forty mothers of preschool children were randomly assigned to either a temperament-focused parent-training program or a wait-list control group. Results suggest that the observed associations…

Examines people's behavior in the Monty Hall Dilemma (MHD), in which a person must make two decisions to win a prize. In a series of five studies, found that people misapprehend probabilities in the MHD. Discusses the MHD's relation to illusion of control, belief perseverance, and the status quo bias. (RJM)

Experimental phonological synthesis (sound blending) and analysis (rhyme detection) tasks were administered to children (n=76) preceding kindergarten entry. Measures of beginning reading were administered after kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. The sound blending task was significantly related to most interim and outcome measures. The…