Behavioral studies have shown that youths in various settings can function effectively as behavior change agents. The study used five 15- to 18- year-old male youths in a closed institutional setting as behavior change agents for five male youth counselors. Staff increased their frequency of positive verbal comments. (Author)

Changes in the choice of significant others from pre- to post-institutionalization were examined in relation to life satisfaction in a population of well-aged retirement home residents. Concluded that a shift in significant relationships away from the family may be an important factor in successful adjustment to a retirement home. (Author)

After tracing the history of Blacks in higher education from slavery to the present, the author discusses the relative merits of Black versus White higher education institutions for Black students. (RLV)

Discusses the process of organizational change for early childcare education centers, focusing on preparation and planning. Provides suggestions for examining the source of change; the way staff, children, and parents are affected; the center's philosophy; practical considerations; staff training and development; the timetable for implementation;…

Investigated environmental influence on health service demands of State Prison of Southern Michigan inmates. Relocated some older prisoners to much smaller facility to examine influence of environmental change. Move seemed to cause temporary increase in illness or health care demands among more elderly inmates, but all other measures of inmate…

Summarizes author's 11 years of experience implementing ecosystems model for assessing resident hall environment at 2 universities. Describes institutionalization of the process, administrative expectations, time commitment, costs, technical problems, student participation, environmental referents, developing change, flexibility, multiple reports,…

Provides information that middle level educators can use to develop dynamic school cultures that emphasize literacy and actively engage students in this effort. Discusses how cultures are created and sustained, and examines middle school practices for the cultural messages they communicate to students. Describes how literacy may be made a core…

This study attempts to draw attention to the hitherto neglected, but important, subject of how the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as a network and promoter of other networks, has sought to foster the spirit of cooperation, understanding and partnership among its various Member States through…

Both White faculty members and Black students bring their own cross-cultural ideology to mentoring relationships. Additionally, institutional culture and type often impact cross-cultural relationships via institutional mission, faculty expectation, and student development. Some researchers have found that race is not a factor in cross-cultural…

The goal of this article is to frame some new directions to social comparison research in organizational settings. Four themes are developed. First, we examine the role of organizational variables in shaping the basic sub processes in social comparison, such as the selection of referents. The second theme focuses on the meaning of level of…

Universities currently face new environmental demands and significant internal complexities that appear to challenge their traditional modes of work and organization--and thus their very identities. In this essay, Mark Considine argues that the prospect of such changes requires us to reflect carefully upon the theoretical and normative…

Purpose: It is argued in this paper that opportunities for learning manifest themselves in the form of frictions between the structure-as-experienced by actors and the structure-as-preferred. These frictions are considered as potential triggers of learning processes. The concept of friction promises to contribute to our understanding of factors…

This paper summarizes research on ways to measure a school's instructional climate. Four areas of inquiry revolve around accomplishment, recognition, power, and affiliation. Because a school's instructional climate has a significant impact on student learning, the study of instructional climate is important. Three sets of conditions to examine…

Institutional atmosphere forms the context of reasoning in an institution and defines the relationship between the individual and the organizational framework of the institution. The hierarchical complexity of the institutional dilemmas solved by people interacting in that institution defines the stages of reasoning embodied in the atmosphere. The…

This study explored the experience of collegiate mid-level managers in the higher education organization through an examination of the construction of roles and the congruity of the constructed role to the environment. Using a qualitative, case study method and symbolic interactionism for a theoretical framework, the study examined the…