Current research on training children in social skills, although promising, suffers from conceptual, methodological, and assessment problems. In addition, the rationale invoked for intervention with shy, withdrawn children appears to be questionable. This issue, as well as others, is addressed in a summary discussion. Recommendations for further…

Contains four articles exploring the relationship between aging and family life and myths about treatment of the aged. Offers psychological perspectives of autonomy and interdependence in the adult family, while examining research needs of the frail elderly and demonstrating the important role of intrafamily resource transfers. (RC)

Discusses some of the problems in recent research on sex differences in classroom interaction, and suggests an interaction model of sex equity in the classroom. The model involves three concepts that characterize the transmission and reinforcement of sex role messages: teacher feedback, role opportunity structure, and student mediation. (CM)

Controversies exist in the research literature on student evaluation of instruction in higher education. In three studies, one of these controversies is explored, namely the relationship among student personality characteristics, teacher ratings, and student achievement. Findings suggest four conclusions relevant to summative evaluations of…

Presents a brief survey of contemporary research in psychology within a tripartite schema: remediation, developmental counseling, and prevention. Addresses methodological issues that focus on designs and trends. Offers suggestions for future research. (Author/RC)

Considers whether research on family violence can be applied to clinical practice. Suggests limitations of the knowledge base constrain the application of research on family violence to clinical work, and certain aspects of the research paradigm also limit the transfer of research knowledge to clinical practice. (Author)

Explores a structural exchange theory of marital interaction. Discusses importance of considering structural and temporal dimensions involved in marital exchange. Suggests examining the influence of the social structure on the cognitive orientations of marital partners and the subsequent exchange relationship. Examines how trust and commitment…

The author outlines the background, scope, purpose, and methodology of the congressionally mandated Vocational Education Study sponsored by the National Institute of Education. (SK)

The problems caused by a lack of standardized definition of behavior disorders in children are discussed, including differences in identification procedures and widely varying prevalence figures. The significance of environmental intolerance and the instability of many behavior problems over time are described. (Author/MH)

Argues that the long reign of the behavioralists and the postbehavioralists has reduced political science theory to a Tower of Babel. Loudly trumpets the revival of Aristotelian political philosophy and identifies some of its leading adherents. Posits three fundamental objections to behavioral political theory. (MJP)

Challenges research and prevailing attitudes that maintain that computers improve teaching and academic achievement. Criticizes and questions research methodology, computer literacy education, the need for computer skills to make a competitive workforce, support from the business community resulting from technology programs, and Internet use. (LRW)

A 1958 New York community study dramatized the thesis that macro forces (urbanization, industrialization, bureaucratization) have undermined all small communities' autonomy. Such "oppositional case studies" succeed when they render the dominant view immediately obsolete, have plausible origins, are testable, and generate new research.…

The New Right regularly claims that the teaching of secular humanism by public schools is responsible for varied social ills and that it violates the constitutional prohibition against the advocacy of religious beliefs. This article explores these as empirical claims, concluding that no reliable evidence supports these allegations. Although such…

Reviews the seven papers presented at a symposium entitled "Perennial Issues in Qualitative Research," part of the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (San Francisco, California, 1986), and included in this issue. Discusses the demonstrated usefulness of qualitative methods in educational research, and also…

Examines methodological and conceptual issues related to the study of the effects of parental depression on children, focusing on the need to develop measures of relational behavior that are well-validated in high risk samples; relational assessments focused around central motivating systems; and methods that describe a variety of individual…