If the "sunset laws" under which government agencies must justify their existence to receive continued funding were applied to the reserve system in academic libraries, the system would prove unsatisfactory. (JAB)

Pre, post, and follow-up evaluative and demographic measures were collected on 38 judges involved in a 4-day alcohol training program at two alcohol treatment centers. Results indicated that judges saw training experience as having significant impact on their roles as judges and their personal lives, but not as leading to changes in their personal…

Major weaknesses with respect to planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of school drug education programs are identified. Recommendations are offered. (Author/MT)

Evaluated the effectiveness of two seven-session stress reduction programs. Results found that the subjects in the two programs had significant decreases in emotional exhaustion and personal strain relative to the controls. No significant difference was found between the two stress reduction programs. (Author/BL)

Implemented a behavioral treatment program for obesity using an interactive microcomputer system small enough to be carried by subjects. Subjects receiving the computer-assisted treatment lost approximately 2.5 times as much weight as controls and their rate of weight loss equaled that for more elaborate behavioral treatments. (MCF)

The article reviews efforts to set child abuse prevention goals in the U.S., noting research on program effectiveness and the role of maltreatment in child mortality. Alternative models for assessing the impact of prevention are described and the need to clarify and specify goals in prevention is stressed. (CL)

A form of dance exercise called low-impact aerobics is being touted as a misery-free form of aerobic dance. Because this activity is relatively new, the exact kinds and frequencies of injuries are not known and the fitness benefits have not been examined. (MT)

The paper examines four assumptions of intervention programs that must be clarified before the question of efficacy can be addressed: (1) implicit theory of human development, (2) conceptualization of the specific interventions, (3) how developmental change is measured, and (4) strategies used for selecting program participants. A final discussion…

Sixty-four high-risk children were randomly assigned at birth to a more intense treatment condition (Educational Daycare Plus Family Education) or a less intense treatment condition (Family Education Alone). Both groups were compared to control Ss. IQ score gains at 36 months were greater for the more intense group than for the other two groups.…

Presents an overview of Quality Circles (QC), and discusses an experimental QC program at University of Central Florida, initial obstacles encountered, and the QC process in operation. Results showed the program failed, possibly due to difficulties in funding regular meeting times, and resistence of managers. (BH)

Twenty-five schoolhouse-tested topics for making inservice meetings more responsive to current interests are listed and discussed (beginning with "Robots Are the Future"). An additional 43 topics are listed only (beginning with "Teaching the Child of Divorce"). (BRR).

After a beginning teacher support system had been in place a year, 108 new teachers were asked their reactions to the mentoring program. They perceived the program to be effective. Suggestions for improvement are discussed. (MT)

The paper reviews research on training programs for parents of handicapped children, identifies shortcomings, and recommends remedies. Research is examined regarding overall effectiveness, differences in effectiveness attributable to certain program features, and durability and generalization. Recommendations include using a model of human…

Agoraphobics (N=37) were randomly assigned to one of three cognitive-behavioral treatments: paradoxical intention, graduated exposure, or progressive deep muscle relaxation training. Results of follow-up analyses revealed statistically significant differences across treatments, tripartite response systems, and assessment phases. (Author/BL)