Reviews the child abuse cases in India under categories based on different forms of child abuse, marital issues involved, parent child interactions, social and psychological characteristics, trends associated with the abused children, and remedial measures. Concludes with an emphasis on the need for empirical data on the extent and nature of child…

Provides an overview of the following article by Rogoff (PS523071) in terms of its focus and contribution. Notes the article's focus on the proposition that development is a process of transformation through participation in cultural practices, and that changes must be considered at three levels: personal, interpersonal, and community. (BAC)

Presents the theoretical position that as people participate in sociocultural activities, they contribute to the development of community practices that simultaneously contribute to the individuals' own development. Illustrates this argument using observations of the developmental processes of individual Girl Scouts and of community traditions of…

Describes the quality of educational research, indicating that it is in a state of crisis because of a lack of both funding and professional consensus on fund allocation. Suggests that educational researchers reach a consensus regarding their minimum information requirements and seek to maximize the limited resources available. (MAB)

This paper reviews how sociocultural theory conceptualizes teaching and learning, fundamental constructs of the theory and methodology, and basic guidelines for discourse analysis. It applies these concepts to three research areas: the social construction of disability, contingent instruction between adults and learners, and miscommunication…

Comments on Erick Smith's article that states the authors do not use a consistent meaning for the term "knowledge" when discussing learning theory. The authors use the Vygotskian account of the movement from the interpsychological to the intrapsychological plane through the process of internalization and reinvention to explain their…

The cross-cultural use of French in francophone Africa has resulted in creative linguistic and stylistic modifications reflecting the sensibilities, inherited cultural patterns, and disposition of its users. French is acquired in the sociocultural context of Africa and not the Christian, Franco-European intellectual milieu. Readers of literary…

According to the Web of Causation epidemiologic model, every disease has multiple causes, and every cause also has multiple causes. The article describes a Web project in an introductory epidemiology course and includes specific guidelines for the written project and a model student web. (SM)

Switzerland's multilingual and multicultural image as an exemplary model of successful cohabitation and conflict management gives a misleading static impression of harmonious intercultural relations. The highly complex Swiss society faces challenges from the coalition of cultural and linguistic entities that live beside, rather than with, one…

A study investigating the evolution in French of the unstressed "e" positioned between single consonants (e.g., "besoin") is presented. It is argued that stabilization of this pattern cannot be confirmed in the speech of educated Parisians but appears to be governed by sociolinguistic variables. Lexical conditioning is examined. (Author/MSE)

A law school faculty member describes her approach and experience in teaching a course on representations of women in literature and the conflicts inherent in being a woman in a male-dominated society. Course structure and curriculum, student response, and lessons learned are discussed, with examples from student papers. (MSE)

This introductory article presents the three tenets undergirding the selection of papers in this issue on a sociocultural perspective for literacy research in children with learning difficulties. The three tenets include learning as a cultural phenomenon; learning as arising in contextualized, holistic, and meaningful activity; and the social…

Examines the emphasis in the literature on the influence of culture on English as a Second Language. Excessive weight has been given to the profiling of regional traits. Greater attention should be paid to the influence of education, institution, and student cultures, which often possess international dimensions. (59 references) (Author/CK)

Continuing education in Europe is being influenced by economic, social, and cultural changes; the liberal tradition; and program diversity. The increasing integration of European society necessitates reformation of a vision of what lifelong education should be. (SK)

The student affairs division at Nebraska Wesleyan University was studied from the perspective of organizational culture, focusing on two factors: organizational climate and the superior-subordinate relationship. Interviews with the director and division staff revealed the importance of mutual support to the division's success. (MSE)