This study investigates the effects of a training procedure on children's conservation. Volume conservation was induced in twenty-one 8-year-old non-conserving children by a procedure that combined two sources of conflict. First, the competing schemes used in making decisions on volumes were aroused; second, the non-conserver was made aware of a…

Analyzed rules for public and private marital conflicts determined by married couples (N=32) after viewing their videotaped, simulated public and private conflicts. Analyzed rating of rules (how often followed, importance, applicability to different relationships/situations) by married people (N=194). Found five factors influencing rule selection:…

This study surveyed Australian high school students' conceptions of democracy. Students held that equal shares, equal say, equal quality, and rewarding productivity were essential to the democratic processes but emphasized them differently when presented with actual problems to solve democratically. (AM)

Between 1999 and 2003 a number of principals (n = 35) from a range of schools in Western Australia were interviewed to investigate the extent to which the state's "Antiracism policy and guidelines for complaint resolution" (1998) had impacted on the day-to-day management of schools. These principals overwhelmingly reported that racism…

In 1991, the Australian Parliament implemented a formal 10-year process of reconciliation. The aim of the process was to reconcile Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by the end of 2000. The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) was established to promote the process. The process had three broad goals: improving education, addressing…

This paper is concerned with placing conflict resolution and nonviolent alternatives firmly at the center of peace education. A brief review of theoretical tendencies in peace education in Australia is offered, and how this is consonant with, and different from, what is actually taught in Australian schools. Some discussion also is given about the…

Examines best practice examples of student welfare policies that address bullying and harassment through strategies to promote a positive school ethos. Stresses the importance of teacher modeling of respectful relationships and promotion of effective conflict resolution procedures throughout the school community. (Contains 23 references.)…

The conflict theory of decision making was examined by testing a conflict model which differentiated among three basic coping patterns in response to decisional conflict, i.e., defensive avoidance, panic, and vigilance. Male college students (N=53) were administered two decisional problems, "The Changing Work Procedures Case" and…

The politics of education is a new field of research specialization both in education and in political science. As with any new field, the politics of education faces a number of problems. On the other hand, it shows promise of being able to make important contributions both in increasing our understanding of educational and political systems and…

The Community Justice Centres (CJCs) in New South Wales (Australia) are an addition to the justice system established and maintained by the state to deal with dispute and conflict in the community. The CJCs are designed to deal with disputes, such as those between members of a family or between neighbors, where there is a continuing relationship…

Group work is a widely used learning approach in higher education where it is seen as encouraging the development of collaborative skills and attitudes while producing an assessable product. Group assignments can, however, create dilemmas and tensions for both staff and students. Students often seek academic intervention in the form of support and…

The formal court system in Australia has long been criticised for its adversarial nature. As a result, there has been an increase in the use of alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation. These are promoted as a means of increasing access to justice by disadvantaged groups and as an inexpensive way of solving legal or quasi-legal…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between sex, social status and social behavior in a sample of Australian preschool-aged children. Social behavior has emerged as an important predictor of social status for children in middle childhood however, although early childhood may be an optimum period for implementation of…

Compared problem-solving behaviors of four samples of couples, sorted by marital happiness/distress and culture (German and Australian). Results showed cultural differences in frequency and functional significance of negative verbal communication, along with cross-culturally consistent marital behaviors associated with marital distress. (Author/TE)

Recent statistics show that young people, ages 10-19 years old, are at greatest risk of violent death in modern society. Teachers and education policy-makers know that by working with students, a change in attitude can be brought about. A curriculum designed to achieve this change is presented here. The curriculum comprises a book and worksheets…