Organizational response to decline in the academic marketplace

In the last twenty-five years institutions of higher education and the academic market-place have undergone considerable change. A period of rapid growth and expansion was followed by a period of shrinking resources and decreasing growth. The effects of organizational decline on personnel management and on the formal structure of the academic hierarchy are examined in Israeli universities. The data show that in the non-growth period standards for faculty selection and advancement have not been formally altered, although actual practices have resulted in prolonged time periods between promotions and until tenure is obtained. The most salient change that has taken place is a continuous process of proliferation of the academic hierarchy by addition of new tracks and ranks to the main regular faculty track, and the increasing use of these positions particularly for new hires. This is consistent with other studies which found that organizational complexity may increase under conditions of decline. The effectiveness and functions of this process as an adaptive response to environmental scarcity are discussed.     

Home birth: safely protecting and supporting normal birth

In this column, the author examines the safety and advantages of home birth. She urges childbirth educators to promote normal birth by encouraging pregnant women to consider the option of home birth.     

Childbirth Education at the Crossroads

In this column, a reader expresses concern that attendance at childbirth classes is declining at the same time the cesarean rate is rising. The history of childbirth education is discussed in the context of both access to information and changes in maternity care since the introduction of formal childbirth education. Changing goals and contemporary challenges facing childbirth education are discussed. The need for a new model of educating and empowering women is identified, and ideas for changes are explored.     

The Role of Semantic Context and Memory in the Acquisition of Novel Nouns

Three studies assessed the ability of 2-year-olds to use semantic context to infer the meanings of novel nouns and to retain those meanings a day later. In the first experiment, 24 2-year-olds heard novel nouns in sentences that contained semantically constraining verbs (e.g., "Mommy feeds the ferret"). They chose from a set of four novel object pictures to indicate the referent. Children learned a majority of the novel words. However, they occasionally failed to choose the correct object even when they understood the verb. Experiment 2 examined whether this was due to an inability to identify some of the pictures of novel objects. Experiment 3 tested 24 2-year-olds' memory for the newly learned nouns following a 24 hr delay and found significant retention. Results are discussed in terms of learning mechanisms that facilitate vocabulary acquisition in young children.     

Crisis intervention: Facilitating parental acceptance of a child's handicap

School psychologists consult with parents on many issues. One frequent task involves informing parents that their child is handicapped. The diagnosis of a handicap can bring on a situational life crisis for parents. This paper discusses various adjustment reactions displayed by some parents in the process of crisis resolution. Implications for the school psychologist's role with parents of exceptional children are presented within a crisis intervention framework.     

Continuing Education Module: Persuasion: The Key to Changing Women's Ideas About Birth

Although standard maternity care is not evidence-based and, in many cases, increases risks for mothers and babies, few women make birth decisions that reflect this knowledge. This column discusses persuasion as a way to change women''s ideas about safe, healthy birth. The relationship between persuasion and choice is discussed, and the differences between presenting information and persuading women that natural birth is the safest and healthiest way to give birth are explored.