Discusses the views and attitudes of Southern California African American and Latino high school students regarding community colleges. Discusses the following issues in detail: (1) cultural capital; (2) the use if community college to enhance cultural capital; and (3) the role of habits in students' relationship to and the use of community…

Discusses how the interviewee first became interested in the application of sociocultural theory to second language acquisition, and what he sees as the appeal of such theory to studies of second language discourse. Discusses current research efforts regarding second language acquisition and describes an experimental language learning classroom.…

Discusses mathematics education research in relation to equity and current U.S. reforms. Mathematics education reforms have been shaped by good intentions and existing research, neither of which offers adequate guidance to address the complexities of equity in mathematics classrooms today. (Author/MM)

Presents a relational perspective in which cultural diversity is viewed as a relationship between people's participation in the practices of different communities. Suggests that the gatekeeping role that mathematics plays in students' access to educational and economic opportunities includes difficulties that students experience in reconciling…

Using phenomenology and portraiture as a framework, the awareness and integration of multiple sociocultural identities, such as race, class, and gender were investigated in the experiences of five Black students at a predominantly White college. This article focuses on the particular finding concerning the role of faith and spirituality in this…

The sociocultural constructs of race, class, and gender combined with disability create a powerful influence on education and work for adults with disabilities. The emergence of disability studies, rights, and culture challenges adult educators to consider the sociocultural implications of disability. (Contains 34 references.) (SK)

A male teacher working with female nursing students reflects on the following issues: (1) extent to which his presence reflects sociocultural dynamics; (2) the complexity of gender dynamics and the need for openness to multiple perspectives; (3) ethical challenges of implementing an empowerment approach; and (4) the search for alternatives to…

Investigated the influences of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and ethnic peer group composition on awareness and internalization of socially sanctioned standards of appearance using the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Adolescence Questionnaire. Findings for 208 adolescent females highlight the importance of multiple ecological factors in…

Argues that psychological constructs prevalent during the 1950s and early 1960s encountered serious challenges when they were applied to African-American children. Specifies the way in which these challenges influenced the direction of developmental theory and research. (RJC)

A rationale and methodology for teaching about the spiritual and religious aspects of human behavior in social work curricula is presented. An approach derived from the field of comparative religious studies is described, and its implications for the personal and professional preparation of the social work educator are discussed. (MSE)

Used data from 200 maritally intact Puerto Rican families in New York City to examine the hypothesized linkage between heterogamy and low marital quality. Findings confirm the existence of homogamous patterns based on age, education, and adherence to cultural values, but do not support the hypothesis that heterogamous dissimilarities in such…

Because of Korean attitudes towards adoption and other reasons, attempts to promote intracountry adoption have met with limited success, and intercountry adoption is used as an alternative way of meeting children's needs. (RJC)

Examined use by Black adults (N=1,322) of informal helpers during serious personal problems. Found network size predicted by age, gender, income, familial contact, and problem type. Discussed significance of informal network in providing assistance during personal crisis. (Author/CM)

Describes the role of music in society. Discussion concerns music in the context of purpose, intention, understanding, social reality, stereotypes, awareness of difference, and other areas. (RJC)

Used data from 1940 through 1980 Public Use Samples of the United States Census to examine how changes in fertility patterns of women have affected age distribution of parents for successive cohorts of children. Found decline in average age of mothers and fathers across cohorts of children, partly reflecting a rapid increase in teenage pregnancies…