Effects of a Preventive Parenting Intervention for Divorced Families on the Intergenerational Transmission of Parenting Attitudes in Young Adult Offspring

This study evaluates whether the New Beginnings Program (NBP), a parenting intervention for divorced mothers, led to positive parenting attitudes in young adult offspring. Data were collected from 240 mothers (G1) and offspring (G2) at ages 9–12 and again in adolescence and young adulthood. Alternative theoretical models were tested to examine mediators of NBP effects on G2 parenting attitudes. Significant interactions between condition and baseline G1 parenting indicated that NBP improved G2's parenting attitudes for those exposed to poorer G1 parenting at program entry. Effects on G2 warm attitudes were partially mediated through program effects on G1 warm parenting. The implications of improving parenting attitudes in offspring who experience parental divorce on well‐being in the next generation are discussed.     

Prediction of child abuse: A prospective study of feasibility

Feasibility of identifying risk for child abuse prospectively was determined by interviewing 1400 expectant mothers and predicting that 273 were high risk. Nonaccidental child injuries were subsequently reported to authorities for 6% of these versus 1% of the remaining 1127 families. Prediction was only effective for 24 months following interview. Thus prenatal prediction was feasible although the rate of false positive high risk assignment would limit practical application of the interview we used. As a first step to improve prediction accuracy, a group of the 20 strongest predictors was selected from the interview by regression analysis. The correlation of these with abuse was .44 compared to .15 for the original interview. Important predictors included subjective impressions of interviewers, residency transience, untruthfulness, disturbed childhood nurture, unwanted pregnancy, and perhaps conditions that increased parent-child exposure.     

Sex of teacher and referral frequency of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade children

This investigation studied whether frequency of referral for special education services was dependent upon the sex of the teacher. The referrals for special education services for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students of one school system were reviewed. The results indicated that male teachers referred proportionately significantly fewer students than did female teachers. Possibilities for the cause of this difference include different cultural expectations for both sex teachers and students, different abilities of male and female teachers, and the manner in which referrals are perceived by other school staff members.     

Innovation in Publishing: This is not an Oxymoron!

While many pundits claim that publishers are not innovative, this paper cites dozens of recent examples of innovation in the publishing industry. The main models reviewed are: innovative projects/partnerships, investment, accelerators/incubators, public/private partnership, and grass-roots programs. Case studies are presented from HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Penguin Random House, and many others, based on research and the author’s own experience. By following the lead of these innovative accomplishments, publishers can foster innovation at their own companies.     

Contradictory Tendencies in Engineering Education

The progress of technology has resulted in substantial changes in the process of modem engineering education. Three domains of subjects constituting the curriculum can be distinguished in this process. With time, certain contradictions between this triad of domains have developed. These contradictions manifest themselves in both negative and positive ways. This paper considers some aspects of this confrontation and proposes some recommendations to minimize the negative effects in education and to strengthen the positive outcomes.

The gap between practice, as typified by design, and academe, as typified by the scientific approach, has grown too great. Closure will depend largely upon the willingness and ability of young academics to assimilate the industrial point of view and build bridges between the two cultures [1].     

Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy,Perceived Stress,and an Integrated Model of Student Persistence: A Structural Model of Finances,Attitudes, Behavior,and Career Development

In response to the extraordinarily diverse adult student population present in college today, a new structural equation model adapted from Cabrera et al. (1993) integrated model of student retention was identified with the addition of three variables: career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), perceived stress and financial difficulty. The study examined the persistence of students (N = 937) 24 years of age or older studying in two-year and four-year degree programs, by combining data from a survey questionnaire and institutional records. Twenty-three variables were included, twelve endogenous variables and eleven exogenous variables, within a nonrecursive structural equation model. The exogenous variables controlled for the background characteristics of the population of adult students examined. Of the twelve endogenous variables of a new integrated model of student persistence, CDMSE, a career development construct related to the perceived vocational futures and career-related tasks of adult students has the widest range of influence among the endogenous variables.