Explored the exchange of social rewards and costs between the therapist and client (N=11 dating couples) in an initial therapy interview. Results suggested that client perceptions of short-term cost may be influenced by educational or informative responses about the general functioning of relationships. (JAC)

Compared the perceptions of 281 Papua New Guinean students and 329 Australian students of the economic and psychological costs of having children. Australians gave high ratings to the importance of financial and emotional costs, while New Guinea students were more aware of overpopulation and restrictions on parents. (JAC)

Rated 15 sources of satisfaction and 15 sources of conflict for nine relationships of adults (N=52). Results showed three clear satisfaction factors (instrumental reward, emotional support, shared interests) and two conflict factors (emotional conflict, criticism). Shared interests seemed to be a universal satisfaction source. (WAS)

Using social exchange theory, examined satisfaction of the primary caregiver with living in a multigenerational household in 99 Midwestern families. Identified important predictors of satisfaction consisting of characteristics of the older person (indicators of dependency status, characteristics of the primary caregiver, and the situational…

Examines ways of modifying incremental influence. Results suggest that referent power can be altered by affecting the interpersonal attraction of group members. Implications for organizational intervention and practice are discussed, and some possible modifications to the theoretical framework of power are advanced. (Author)

Face-to-face discussion has been shown to increase cooperation behavior in social dilemmas. Two general explanations of this effect were tested: group identity and perception of consensus. Female undergraduate students (N=160) participated in four-person groups in one of four experimental conditions. Findings indicate the most plausible…

Investigated differential ability of similarity theory and social exchange theory to predict the effects of self-disclosure in a counseling versus a friendship encounter (n=80 undergraduates). Participants rated the videotaped self-disclosure of an individual in an initial dyadic encounter. Unequivocal support was not obtained for either theory.…

While research examining altruism has relied on subject responses to written vignettes rather than actual altruism-eliciting situations, the relationship between written responses and actual behavior has not been established. To assess the degree to which some classic social/psychological behavior results could be replicated using short, written…

The educational system is the most important of the institutions that bridge the family and the work place. Because of the role of bridge institutions in providing skills and screening that influence an individual's developmental path, it is important to understand how urban systems allocate scarce opportunities. The purpose of this essay is to…

Using a sample of 757 middle-aged and older residents of the Atlanta metropolitan region, the relationship between primary group contact and morale was investigated. With a control for sex and dependency, results indicated that: (1) interaction with children has a negative impact on the morale of dependent, older males; (2) visits with children…

Using an exchange theory perspective, this study evaluates the degree to which school rejection policies and racial discrimination contribute to the decision of black students to disengage from the education exchange process and drop out of school. In the exchange theory perspective the student is viewed as a party in an exchange relationship with…

An investigation was conducted with 20 cohabiting dyads (total N=40) to assess the implications of exchange orientation (EO) on dyadic functioning. EO was defined as the degree to which individual members of the dyad seek reciprocity from their partner. Most individuals tend to be quite sensitive to their own work input within the dyad, but are…

Discusses summer camps' difficulties in recruiting college students as staff, suggesting camps have "image problem." Describes study of job descriptions to evaluate whether camps offer useful career experiences. Examines frequency and types of job tasks. Examines how camp directors might use job descriptions to recruit more effectively. (TES)

This monograph presents an overview of reports from a 4-year intensive research study of internal life among 3 Swedish compulsory schools and includes discussion of a 10-year follow-up study of 12 senior-level compulsory schools. The 4-year project sought to understand innovative processes, but because few innovations were observed, research…

Evidence from North American pay practices was used to examine the question of whether the "old employment contact," according to which employees promised to exchange hard work for job security, has truly been replaced by a "new employment contract" based more on market forces. The study analyzed data from the following…