Researchers in the social norms area have previously focused primarily on alcohol consumption, paying comparatively less attention to drug use and sexual behavior. The major purposes of this study were to (1) compare perceptions of peer norms in the areas of alcohol use, drug use, and sexual behavior with actual behavior and (2) determine if a…

The creation of an effective learning environment requires cultural competency--the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competency means knowing and understanding the people that you serve. This study compares American and Chinese student's readiness and willingness to use innovative technology by assessing…

The importance of empirical sociological surveys in providing legal support for Russia's social development has a substantive foundation. Sociology and the juridical sciences share a common viewpoint when it comes to the study of social relations, namely the analysis of normative behavior. Social norms and the norms of law differ a great deal,…

Traces the roots of the popular culture "commodity confessional" by examining the first five years of the magazine "True Story." Finds the stories fulfilled three functions for the women readers: (1) providing therapeutic messages; (2) providing didactic instruction on proper behavior and modern ways; and (3) serving as interrogative texts which…

Like the proverbial "square peg" that meets resistance when forced to go through a round hole, adult students often struggle as they try to progress through systems of higher education that have been shaped to accommodate traditionally aged students. Adult students may have difficulty progressing through the postsecondary system because…

This study examines imagined interactions (IIs) among young adults in the United States, Thailand, and Japan. A comparison of means across cultures on II characteristics reveals that the Japanese participants have the widest variety of II partners, whereas the American participants are the most self-dominant in their IIs and demonstrate the most…

People can use a variety of different strategies to perform tasks and these strategies all have two characteristics in common. First, they can be evaluated in comparison with either an absolute or a relative standard. Second, they can be used at varying levels of consistency. In the present article, the authors develop a general theory of task…

A model student code is provided for use by college and university counsel in creating their own written student disciplinary codes. Commentary on each section of the model code offers practical reasons for inclusion and some suggestions on how college counsel might approach certain disciplinary issues. (Author/MSE)

Examines the character of Pippi Longstocking, created in the 1940s by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Argues that Pippi is a kind of clown-magician, courageous, exuberant, and unflappable. Shows how, by living life on her own terms, Pippi's comedy both subverts the trappings of adult society and affirms the possibility of a better world. (SR)

This article turns one of most cited philosopher's John Dewey's title, "How We Think" (1933/1998) back upon itself to consider how "thought" or "reason" are cultural practices that historically order and generate principles for reflection and action. The discussion proceeds thusly: (1) Schooling is about changing people; (2) Changing people…

Brief examples of the use of rules defining expectations in two high schools demonstrate the effectiveness of this method and that it is a useful and practical strategy for administrators. (MLF)

The purpose of this study was to test theoretical propositions advanced by Meyer and Herscovitch (2001) concerning the interactive effects of affective, normative, and continuance commitment on focal (staying intentions) and discretionary (citizenship) behavior. Study measures were gathered from a sample of 545 hospital employees. Several a priori…

This article explores the performance of masculinity(ies) within the classroom site. Drawing upon research conducted in two co-educational secondary classrooms, it examines the ways in which two groups of boys took up positions of dominance within their respective classrooms and, more specifically, focuses upon the ways in which they came to…

Most people learn and internalize their sense of ethical behavior many years before they assume positions of organizational responsibility. Continued training in ethics helps to develop new understanding and supports ethical behavior. It is also useful to increase the cognitive skills of executives making decisions affecting firms and…

Presents a model of social confrontation (communication episodes initiated when one participant signals that the other's behavior violates a rule or expectation for appropriate conduct). Describes issues arising during social confrontation. Concludes that negotiating expectations or relational rules within a problematic situation is the crux of…