Reviews the controversy surrounding the work of Cyril Burt on the genetic contribution to mental ability and argues that the disparagement of Burt's results provides one of the most extraordinary cases of counterfeit charges in academic psychology. Suggesting genetic differences in brain size or intellect is politically incorrect. (SLD)

The posthumous condemnation of Cyril Burt destroyed his reputation and undermined his life's work on the genetic nature of differences in intelligence. Whether Burt falsified research findings or not, the real significance of the affair lies in what it teaches about scientific methodology and the fallibility of personal judgments. (SLD)

The authors' review of scientific studies on sexual coercion leads to their conclusions that many such studies lack rigor, reflect experimenter bias, and provide almost no insight into causal mechanisms of coercive behaviors. In the politicized area of women's studies, social expression is valued beyond scientific progress. (SLD)

Analysis of studies on predictors of people's attitudes toward gifted education reveals that about 50 variables have been examined as potential sources of differences, but not a single variable emerges as a substantial explanatory factor. Major methodological problems in the studies are identified and proposals for future research are offered.…

Discusses the effects of parental depression and distress on children, focusing on the interaction of parent and child age and gender on such behaviors. Also considers the need for studies on the precise functional effects of intrafamilial processes that contribute to the intergenerational transmission of depression. (MDM)

Argues that research's production of knowledge is not set apart from society, but is embedded in it. The article calls for efforts to uncover the ways in which psychological knowledge is shaped by ongoing societal struggles and cultural politics. (GR)

Comments on the ideas espoused by Smedslund (PS 522 552) in this issue. Agrees to the idea of spending more intellectual energy in distinguishing between a priori and empirical hypotheses but emphasizes that concepts are not always accurate reflections of reality and that even empirical disconfirmation of an a priori hypothesis sometimes can…

Examined the possible existence, direction, and nature of subconscious, cognitive biases in participants' quality attributions to maternal and nonmaternal child-care interactions, the relationship of such biases to subject's background, and their attitudes toward child care and maternal employment. Potential explanations for the biases and the…

Eight elementary school students who exhibited articulation impairments outside the treatment setting but not in treatment were provided with an articulatory self-monitoring strategy. No subject clearly demonstrated a positive treatment effect. Differences in variables between this study and earlier studies with positive treatment effects are…

Following a discussion of the research-to-support-theory (RTST) model and problems with its use in research on computer-based instruction, the instructional development (ID) model is proposed. Definition, design, development, and dissemination stages of the ID model are described. Advantages of this model, particularly the inclusion of expert…

Several issues related to the design and reporting of results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are discussed in the context of current expectations for the NAEP and its origins. These issues include: (1) content coverage and format; (2) estimation procedures; and (3) reporting problems. (SLD)

Discusses difficulties of examining Jean Piaget's work, caused in part by his own revisions and earlier, inadequate interpretation in English translation. Examines common misunderstandings of Piagetian developmental stages and similar misinterpretations of his ideas on education. Focuses on importance of other disciplines, including psychology and…

Implications of ignoring correlated error on parameter estimates in some simple structural equation models are examined. It is shown analytically and empirically through simulation that ignoring positive between-construct correlated error overestimates the structural parameter linking the two constructs. Effects become more pronounced with…

Discusses the importance of validating research data from questionnaires, exploring the difficulties presented in an attempt to validate questionnaire data regarding students' attitudes toward learning English in Japan. (Author/CB)

Reviews the six cross-cultural research articles in this issue. The articles document diverse environments of child development; explore universality and variation in mothers' and children's behavior; and delineate relationships between culture, parental behavior, and developmental outcomes. A strength of the research is its collection of…