Notes that, in survey of 50 cancer patients offered living wills, 6 individuals declined to sign advance directives. Contains detailed evaluation of each of six cases. Discusses potential value of living wills in context of other, newer forms of advance directives, such as durable power of attorney for health care, and more detailed living will…

Provides counselors with concept-based materials that clients can use to understand and structure career problem-solving and decision-making process. Notes that clients can use this knowledge to solve immediate career problems; transfer knowledge to future career problems; or generalize knowledge to other types of personal, social, and family…

Illustrates how career counselors can integrate results of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII) to enhance client's decision-making ability. Includes detailed description of MBTI and brief explanation of SCII and discussion of how both instruments can be used jointly to promote career decision making.…

Argues importance of communication for group decision-making performance and its impact on such performance are function of three task characteristics: structure, information requirement, and evaluation demand. Identifies task circumstances in which group communication can be expected to play role in determining decision-making performance, as…

Notes that life-saving advances in medicine have created difficult ethical and legal dilemmas for health care professionals. Presents beginning knowledge base for bioethical practice, especially in hospital neonatal units. Outlines key elements of bioethical decision making and examines potential social work role from clinical and organizational…

Notes that societal efforts to protect endangered children have resulted in increased responsibilities for social workers to identify, report, and provide testimony in suspected cases of abuse and neglect. Provides information to increase social workers' knowledge of legal requisites and system realities in child protection to help them make…

Notes that process of discharge planning is often impeded by disagreements among family members who must readjust roles and relationships in the face of crisis of illness. Discusses sources of family disagreements related to discharge planning, identifies implications for social work practice, and uses family systems perspective to articulate…

Describes factors that may bias psychoeducational decision making and discusses three heuristic principles that affect decision making. Discusses means by which school psychologists can be made aware of these heuristic principles and encouraged to consider them when making psychoeducational decisions. Also discusses methods by which bias in…

This document is a report on the implementation of changes to methods formerly used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to evaluate claims relating to mental impairment for disability benefits. The introductory letter states several conclusions reached by the General Accounting Office's (GAO) review of the criteria used by the SSA to…

The field of death and dying has become an important area for the development of both research and clinical technique. Psychologists in increasing numbers work in hospital and hospice settings, and therapists treat terminally ill patients and/or their families. Greater attention is being paid to the needs and rights of these patients and families,…

Academic learning is a complex activity which is not easily modified. Several models have been used to deliver learning improvement programs, including the study skills course and the discrete skills approach. These approaches make few if any accommodations for variations in individual differences or needs. Four factors, however, indicate that…

Fifteen National Science Foundation personnel met with Stephen Toulmin to discuss topics/issues related to pluralism and responsibility in post-modern science. Presented is an edited transcript of this roundtable/discussion (part of a series of roundtables which examined theoretical/practical aspects of how the nature of scientific progress is…

The author states that there are inherent contradictions and assumptions in community development (CD) theory and practice. Contradictions spring from a tendency to apply CD on an inappropriate level and for incorrect purposes. Assumptions spring from CD's Western cultural origins. (CH)

Points to the increasing education level in society as a force toward participative management style. Stresses that the education taking place in the United States may not equip people to work in a democratic workplace. Presents a model of participative management style and discusses its relationship to education. (BH)

Discussion of the acquisition of small computer systems (microcomputers and software) by libraries for their own use covers the decision-making process, five options available for acquiring software, stand-alone microcomputer packages for library housekeeping, and national bibliographic control of computer software. Twenty-six references are…