This study examined whether children view anonymity or non-anonymity in helping as reflecting a greater degree of kindness on the part of the helper. The subjects of the study were 165 kindergarten to college students, primarily white and middle class. Five story pairs containing contrasting helper attributions were presented to the subjects.…

Educational psychology has indicated that prior knowledge is a potentially important educational variable. Recent and earlier research in educational psychology has shown that 30 to 60% of the variance in study results could be explained by this variable. Insight into these factors should influence the return on education. A common theoretical…

A study described college student writers as they constructed arguments, creating a picture of school-based argument drawn not from ideal models of arguments as envisioned by educators, but from experiences of students themselves. A three-part framework that synthesizes rhetorical perspectives on argument with a social-cognitive view of the…

There have been ongoing debates among educational researchers over the appropriateness of various research methods. This paper begins with the contention that these differences in methodological orientation are in large part reflections of the broader ideological and value convictions of the researchers themselves. A critical point to be made,…

Language and literacy teachers in adult education vary widely in personal background, educational training, professional experience, interest in language and literacy, and enthusiasm for teaching. Teaching context and focus may differ greatly. Because of funding realities, teachers often need to find a balance between their own views of…

This paper discusses the development of instruments to measure individual differences in behavior during infancy. The Infant Temperament Questionnaire (ITQ), which was designed to measure the temperament dimensions identified by the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS), constituted the methodological starting point in the search for a dimensional…

This book offers information and ideas to support teachers, parents and other caregivers in their efforts to help children accept and like their bodies. It includes specific tips on dealing with body image issues and suggestions for role modeling healthy attitudes about body size. It also offers suggestions for healthy eating, increasing physical…

This paper explores how teachers of public relations can help students tolerate the many ambiguities inherent in public relations practice. The paper first reviews the literature regarding individual differences in communication, tolerance-intolerance of ambiguity, and individual differences in teaching. The paper then reports the findings of two…

Many colleges and universities lack a comprehensive, fully integrated marketing plan to combat high attrition rates in programs offered to non-traditional students. A clear understanding of the needs of the marketplace is crucial to an effective marketing program. Research suggests that life transitions are what motivate adults to pursue…

The reading of a literary work can give rise to five different kinds of literary knowing: (1) knowing about self; (2) knowing about others; (3) knowing about texts; (4) knowing about contexts; and (5) knowing about processes of making meaning. A literary work can prompt a reader to reflect upon aspects of his or her own life. Concentrating upon…

The relationship between interaction with the caregiver and the emergence of play activities during the one-word period was examined. In particular, investigation centered on Vygotsky's views regarding the importance of social interaction as the source of the child's knowledge of the world. To empirically examine the role of the caregiver,…

Designed for elementary school teachers, the document presents two short puppet plays about children who are different. The first story focuses on a young boy's concerns about being adopted. The second play is about a boy who is learning disabled. The plays, which require only two acting characters, are accompanied by two song lyrics and a list of…

The article discusses: the role of staff development within the broad concept of continuing education, continuing education based on different types of preparatory education, need for improved learning opportunities for staff development educators, and major goals for the staff development educator. (Author/MS)

The relationship of several individual difference variables to achievement in college courses was investigated, using a sample of 500 freshmen and sophomores taking introductory psychology. (Editor)

This study investigated reactions to an anti-alcohol communication delivered by convert and nonconvert communicators. In four convert conditions the communicator was presented as a former alcoholic. The convert's communication was either Personal or Impersonal. Overall evaluations of the communicator and communication were significantly more…