Playing Well with Others in Kindergarten: The Benefit of Siblings at Home

There are many reasons to expect that children gain something by growing up with siblings, yet there is surprisingly scant evidence of this advantage. Indeed, the vast majority of research assessing the consequences of siblings reports negative effects: Children with many siblings do not perform as well in school as children with few siblings. By focusing almost exclusively on educational outcomes, however, previous studies have neglected ways in which children might benefit from siblings. One possibility, for example, is that siblings promote children's social and interpersonal skills. In this study, we analyze a sample of kindergartners (N = 20,649) from The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 to replicate the often‐noted negative relationship between number of siblings and cognitive outcomes, and then demonstrate that this pattern does not extend to social skills. Findings are consistent with the view that children negotiate peer relationships better when they grow up with at least one sibling.     

Applied behavioral intervention in rural school settings: Problems in research design,implementation, and evaluation

This article discusses a number of theoretical, practical, and methodological difficulties encountered in the design, implementation, and evaluation of treatment programs conducted in the natural environment. In order to illustrate how these difficulties might be overcome, a case example is provided. Contingency contracts were used to modify the assaultive and disruptive behaviors of a 6-year-old child attending a preschool program for emotionally and physically handicapped children. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated through the use of a multiple baseline design and maintenance of behavior change was assessed in periodic follow ups of the child for 1 year after his admittance to public school. The importance of, planning for the generalization of newly acquired behaviors to different environments is stressed and suggestions for facilitating this process are discussed.     

Cobblers and Song-birds: The Language and Imagery of Disability

In this article the author traces the development and delivery of a workshop on the language and imagery of disability. Within a context of post-modernist ontology and epistemology in which he sees language as the constituent of being, he examines the perceived discrepancy between attitude and structures in relation to disability, considering on the way questions of power and identity. Using a new paradigm narrative, model he discusses the language and imagery of disability created by means of a self-contained text in the workshop, attempting to demonstrate that any language behaviour will illustrate stereotypes in the wider societal culture. Because of the textual methodology he discusses briefly the nature of 'readership'. The workshop was for him an exploration and his discoveries lead him to examine the implications for disabled consultant/trainers and disabled people generally with respect to their relationship with non-disabled society.     

The challenge of training in applied sociology

This paper adds to the current dialogue in our discipline regarding the challenge of expanding nonacademic employment opportunities for sociologists and training our students for such employment. The argument is made that this challenge should be seen as an opportunity for us to demonstrate the relevance of our knowledge and expertise to society and to advance the intellectual development of our discipline. Moreover, the achievement of these benefits does not require sacrificing the distinctive intellectual core of sociology as a humanistic liberal arts discipline. To help bridge the gap between academic and nonacademic cultures, several interrelated strategies are suggested that address issues of marketing and public relations, as well as curriculum revision. The internship, as a key feature of “applied” programs, is crucial in terms of both training students and facilitating our contacts with potential employers. where he developed the department’s internship program, and has done consultation with religious and social service organizations. where he helped develop the Master’s program in applied sociology, and has done extensive consultation with business organizations regarding their needs for sociological skills and expertise. which is jointly sponsored by the College of Business and Management and the Department of Sociology, and which conducts studies in organizational design, entrepreneurship, and strategic management at the University of Maryland in College Park. has done extensive consultation and research with business organizations and the military on personnel and family issues. in Jacksonville and utilizes sociological concepts in courses on organizational management and design. a member of the ASA Ad Hoc Committee on Under- and Un-employment. where he recently completed a term as Head of the Department and a leave of absence to the staff of the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.     

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With demands on hospital medical staffs growing more complex, the days of volunteer or popularly elected medical staff leaders are fading fast. Take a look at the history of medical staff leadership and learn about dramatic changes that could make your medical staff function more smoothly.