Assessed five scales as mental health measures for older persons (N=318). The internal consistency reliabilities for the anxiety, depression, and well-being scales were moderately high to high, but the reliabilities for the affect balance scale suggest some caution. Cutting points for the well-being and depression scales are suggested. (Author/JAC)

Investigated the impact of old-age and attractiveness stereotypes on persuasion. College students (N=220) read essays attributed to young or old authors. Attractive authors were rated higher and were more persuasive relative to unattractive authors when the essay was weak. (Author/JAC)

Argues that if students are unable to show improvement after two semesters of innovative writing instruction, they should not be forced to continue to write essays. (AEA)

Describes use of participant observation in a preschool setting, reporting findings on children's sociodramatic play, roles children assign adults, children's perceptions of teacher-directed organization and activities, children's spontaneous conversations, and individual learning differences and styles. Points out implications of such…

Compared self-esteem among 87 unemployed metal refinery workers and 81 who were still employed. Results confirmed that unemployed workers scored lower in self-esteem and those who were reemployed at other jobs scored between the unemployed and employed workers. Implications for counseling practices are discussed. (JAC)

Compared physically abused male preschoolers (N=11) with nonabused matched controls on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the Wide Range Achievement Test. Significant differences were found on the Verbal and Memory Scales and the General Cognitive Index of the McCarthy. No behavioral differences were noted. (Author/JAC)

Examined the impact of disclosure flexibility in simulated counseling contexts involving 50 counselors in training. Results indicated that more flexible disclosures produced more effective counselor responses but differences were attenuated over the course of training. (Author/JAC)

Examined whether a total score on a multidimensional measure of trait anxiety could supplement the ability of individual dimension scale scores in predicting state anxiety responses to dimension-congruent stress. Results support the multidimensional approach to general trait anxiety but indicate that a total score would supplement predictions.…

Presents a model for analyzing teachers' time allocation procedures in collective instruction along with a qualitative analysis of 10 elementary school teachers' implementations of short sequences of mastery learning. Sequences illustrate possible ways teachers adjust conditions that are formulated in the model. (Author/MP)

Studied the relationship between depression and humor in 85 college students who took the Beck Depression Inventory and then rated 10 cartoons. Results showed no difference between mildly depressed and nondepressed subjects. However, some trends were noted on a mood scale related to immediate feelings and humor preference. (Author/JAC)

Compared individual differences and treatment effectiveness in male volunteer alcoholics (N=47) in a 10-day electroconditioning aversion program. Follow-up showed combination therapy was more successful. Internals and hard liquor drinkers tended to be abstinent as predicted. Field dependency was a more unstable variable for outcome. (Author/JAC)

Investigated whether assertive and nonassertive individuals differ in defense mechanisms they most typically rely on when confronted with interpersonal stress and conflict. Results indicated assertive males and females both endorsed the most adaptive defense mechanism cluster, whereas nonassertive males and females endorsed more primitive defense…

This article stresses the importance of objectivity in the evaluation and assessment of preschool hearing impaired Hispanic bilingual children. A case illustration is presented to demonstrate the need for objectivity in the team evaluation process, and guidelines are presented for use in working with Hispanic families. (Author/CJ)

Compared homeless aged men who live on the Bowry or in hotel rooms in New York City. Results showed homelessness is not a uniform category. Sociability differentiated them from nonhomeless age peers and socioeconomic status differentiated the two groups; also found differences in each groups' social adaptation. (Author/JAC)

Examined the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA) by factor analytic techniques. Although the results indicated a strong need for caution, there was evidence of an alternative interpretation of the LSIA that has a degree of consistency across racial and gender categories. These findings raise implicit questions about prior research. (Author/JAC)