SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING WITH PRESCHOOLERS: AN ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE

We attempted to replicate an intervention program by Bornstein and Quevillon (1976), which had shown that the disruptive classroom behavior of Head Start children could be dramatically reduced through self-instructional training. Although the subject population and procedures were quite similar across studies, our self-instructional training did not produce socially significant, durable increases in either appropriate classroom behavior or changes in teacher ratings of the children's behavior. These results suggest that additional variables may have been responsible for Bornstein and Quevillon's success.     

时间词义赋值特征的分析

本研究用模糊统计试验方法对9个时间修饰词作了经验赋值工作。被试260名本科大学生和160名高中生。结果表明,给定的9个时间修饰词都是模糊概念,其中“此刻”的模糊度最小,“将来”和“过去”的模糊度最大,“不久”的模糊度较大。对大学生来说,9个时间修饰词的模糊度由小到大的排列顺序为“此刻”、“刚才”、“现在”、“即将”、“遥远的未来”“很久以前”“不久”“过去”“将来”。对高中生来说,9个时间修饰词的模糊度由小到大的排列顺序为“此刻”、“现在”、“刚才”、“即将”、“遥远的未来”、“很久以前”、“不久”、“过去”、“将来”。词义的模糊度与评量的把握度呈负相关。给定的9个时间修饰词在心理量表上的距离是不等的。     

GENERALIZATION OF STUDENT QUESTION ASKING FROM SPECIAL CLASS TO REGULAR CLASS SETTINGS

This study investigated the use of videotaped exemplars taken from a regular education mathematics class to teach generalization of question asking. Three mildly handicapped fourth-grade students who asked few questions in the regular education class served as subjects. Measures of the frequency of question asking and percentage of accuracy on assignments were obtained in the regular class. Treatment included showing the videotapes to the subjects, structuring opportunities for rehearsing question asking, and providing feedback. The results showed training procedures implemented in the learning resource room were effective in increasing the level of participants' question asking and in improving their scores on assignments in the regular mathematics class.     

THE TOUCH OF HUMILITY: AN INVITATION TO CREATURELINESS

Humility has been much maligned and misunderstood in recent thought. An authentic sense of humility, however, is borne out of a deep appreciation for human creatureliness, and is concretely worked out in the grateful acceptance of our interdependent need. The phenomenological studies of Jean‐Louis Chrétien, particularly his analyses of touch and the “call‐response” structure to human life, are enlisted to show our true life as lived in humble reception and responsible engagement with the gifts of God. Far from being a debasement of humanity, humility—which finds its practical patterns in the divine life—is the core of our identity and vocation.     

THE EFFICACY OF AN ALL-POSITIVE APPROACH TO CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

This study addressed the question of whether an all-positive approach to classroom management can be effective. The on-task behavior and academic performance of eight, second- and third-grade children with behavior problems were examined. Results indicated that an all-positive approach that relied primarily on praise was not effective. However, when an individualized reward system was used, the children's rates of on-task behavior were high and stable. Similar effects were observed for academic productivity. Thus, a classroom can be managed using only positive consequences. However, to be successful, such an approach may require a considerable amount of teacher time and effort, particularly potent, varied and individual rewards, and high rates of appropriate behavior previously established using both positive and negative consequences.     

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEX AND SEX ROLE TO THE ABILITY TO DECODE NONVERBAL CUES

This paper reports an investigation of the ability to decode nonverbal cues. Past studies of decoding have often tested for differences in ability between males and females. Results do not consistently favor the ability of one sex over the other, but, when differences do appear, they indicate greater sensitivity for females. Researchers in the area of sex differences in human communication emphasize that variability may be related to sex roles. With regard to nonverbal sensitivity, researchers have suggested that femininity may be associated with better nonverbal decoding because of practice gained in traditionally feminine occupations. It has also been reasoned that certain traits, such as submissiveness and expressiveness, are linked to both femininity and nonverbal sensitivity. The present study investigates the relationship of sex, sex role, and nonverbal sensitivity. Whereas female sex was found to be positively associated with nonverbal ability, femininity was negatively related. Several interpretations of this surprising result are offered.