A study of 175 Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania) students compared psychosocial characteristics with basic science examination grades, clinical examination grades, and ratings of clinical competence as performance measures. Results indicate the noncognitive psychosocial measures are significant and unique predictors of medical school…

Analyzed data from 11 studies of concordance of mother/father attachment to an infant based on the Strange Situation. Found that security of attachment, type of insecurity, and subcategory classification of security to one parent depended on the other parent. Discussed parenting styles and infant temperament. (BC)

Factor analysis problems of scales with dichotomous items were illustrated using the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children. A different solution than that of R. E. Lindal and P. H. Venables (1983) was obtained, despite using similar samples--2 random samples of 671 and 674 male seventh and eighth graders. (SLD)

Examined personality characteristics of first-time (n=174) and repeat (n=64) driving while intoxicated offenders. Found that repeat offenders differed significantly from first-time offenders on 12 of 24 personality characteristics, were less expressive emotionally, and were less flexible in ways of finding stimulation; however, self-reported…

This study, with 64 gifted students (grades 4-8) and 432 nongifted peers, found that, although gifted boys were the most popular group, gifted girls were the least popular. Gifted boys were perceived by peers to be physically attractive, less aggressive, more creative, and smarter than other children. (Author/DB)

Descriptions of temperament were more predictive of maternal adaptation than were mothers' expectations of infant behavior. Infant temperament was more important for multiparous mothers than for first-time mothers. Predicted interactive effects were not found. (RH)

Examined sex-typed traits (instrumentality and expressiveness), the work environment (demands and interpersonal resources), and importance of stressor episodes as predictors of measures of coping (avoidance, problem reappraisal, and active problem solving) with 132 managers. Found women more likely to use avoidance and problem-reappraisal coping,…

Examined cardiac activity during the first 13 months of life. Indexes of cardiac activity changed in an orderly way with development. There were intercorrelations among the cardiac measures. Analyses indicated that measures of heart-rate variability were significantly higher in insecure children than in secure children. (BC)

Restructuring requires that educational leaders have new frameworks for interpreting participant behaviors. Paulo Freire has defined characteristics of people moving toward higher thinking levels and decision-making ability. Combining Freire's thoughts with restructuring provides a conceptual model allowing leaders to interpret the organizational…

This study explores the views of campus constituent groups about what makes a good college president. Interviews with 142 members of the governing board, senior administrators, and faculty leaders indicate that competent, patient leaders who are constantly attentive to relationships and meaning are the most highly valued. (SLD)

Retrospective questionnaires and prospective monitoring measures were used to test the trait of coping styles of 105 college students as predictors of their weekly alcohol consumption. Individuals reporting deficits in emotion focused and avoidant coping strategies drank more often than subjects with other styles of coping. Measurement methodology…

Examined the relationships between day-care quality, children's emotional expression, and temperament among 60 3- to 5-year-olds in 26 day-care centers. Found that the appropriateness of the caregiving, but not the appropriateness of activities in the child-care center, significantly predicted the proportion of positive emotional affect in…

Examined relative contribution of work stressors, family and community resources, and Army support resources to family adaptation of 238 single parents serving on active duty in U.S. Army. Results indicated that adaptation of single-parent families to Army demands were influenced more strongly by availability of family, community, and Army…

Analyzes historical and contemporary cases where outstanding achievement resulted despite the lack of a strongly supportive environment. It concludes that personal strengths of the individual are the key factor in overcoming deficiencies in environmental support. Models of Feldman, Piirto, Tannenbaum, and Gagne are applied to the development of…

A cross-sectional study (n=3,663) and a longitudinal study (n=61) of employed persons found that openness to experience increases job-decision latitude. This effect is neutralized, however, by poor interpersonal relationships at work. (SK)