Presents a model of second language acquisition based on the social-psychology of acculturation, including factors in social, affective, personality, cognitive, biological, aptitude, personal, input, and instructional areas. Studies which test this model are reviewed and evaluated. (Author/CB)

A discussion of student ratings of faculty looks at problems in measurement and interpretation, including such factors as the ability of raters to evaluate complex behaviors, the salience of personal characteristics in judging task performance, and emphasis on the students as consumer. (Author/MSE)

Focuses on the role of temperament in early psychosocial interaction, specifically as it relates to infant-mother attachment. Also considers how temperament may influence the infant's cognitions, emotions, and behaviors and thus affect his or her adaptation to social events. (HOD)

Effective peer relations and the enhancement of social interactions in young children play a central role in the discussion of social competence. Developmental issues relevant to the assessment of social competence including perspective taking, conceptions of friendship, interpersonal strategies and problem solving, moral judgments, and…

Defining social cognition as our attempts to make sense of how people think, perceive, infer, feel, and react, this book examines both the classical issues and contemporary understanding of theory and research in social cognitive development. The initial chapters highlight one of the central, theoretical tensions in the field, which is whether the…

Demonstrated the advantages of using all three letters of Holland codes. Urged that the Compatibility Index (CI) be used to supplement high point code-letter research. The CI use of secondary and tertiary scales gives valuable information about groups or individuals that is lost in single-scale reporting. (JAC)

Examines Jones's and Nisbett's (1971, 1972) hypothesis that people generally attribute the actions of others to stable trait dispositions but see their own behavior as relatively more influenced by specific environmental circumstances. Discusses methodological problems in studies examining this hypothesis, suggesting ways they might be overcome.…

Studied career progression among Mexican American college graduates. Results indicated career progression was correlated to (1) high school grades, (2) tolerance for ambiguity, (3) work ethic, (4) psychological success, and (5) need for achievement and related to career development programs and the industry in which the employing organization was…

Job applicants should be prepared for an interview by doing research on the company and being properly dressed and groomed. To avoid being hired as tokens, minority applicants should ask about stability rate and executive achievement of other minority employees. (JAC)

The author asserts that effective teachers are far more critical to school effectiveness than innovations in school organization, facilities, or curriculum. He reviews some studies on the characteristics of effective teachers to suggest criteria for identifying and evaluating effective teachers. He urges schools to invest in teacher proficiency.…

Discussion of the relationship of personality variables to programing ability highlights a study of undergraduates that investigated the influence of cognitive style on the programing skill of debugging. Use of the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) is described, scoring schemes for diagnostic tasks are explained, and suggestions for further…

Addresses two questions: What strategies do good language learners use? What factors affect choice of language learning? A review and synthesis of existing research on language learning strategies, including a number of new and unpublished studies, is used to answer these questions. (53 references) (Author/VWL)

Summarizes literature on identity formation in individuals from socially devalued racial and ethnic groups in U.S. Discusses implications for adolescents in foster care or residential group homes, many of whom are African American or Latino. Postulates that social maladaptation is reflective of identity disturbances created by negative images of…

This paper reviews common emotional and social needs of gifted children. Two personality self-report instruments, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children, are suggested for helping students gain self-awareness and self-acceptance, which will enhance their emotional growth toward awareness of others and…

Presents key themes from expanding literature on resilience, drawing from both psychological research and narratives of survivors. Focuses on Kauai study, landmark 30-year longitudinal study on resilience in 698 infants. Also examines survivors of child abuse, distinguishes between unhealthy and healthy resilience, discusses issues of separation…