Investigated development of working memory in the transitional period from infancy to preschool years. The age-related increase in scores on the Imitation Sorting Task (IST) appeared to be about one unit every six months. Results suggest that the IST has a good construct validity. (AA)

Two studies on M-capacity found factor-analytical and correlational evidence that five M-capacity tests share a common source of variance and that, as subjects' increase in age, scores increase at a similar rate. Results suggest that, in the 6-11 age range, M-capacity can be measured with a battery of tests. (AA)

Examines subjects' processing in misleading test items. Suggests that the M-power for children, when assessed behaviorally, may increase with age in a discrete manner, and have the potential to generate interval scales of measurement. In addition, suggests that, in light of the results, what statisticians often consider "error of…

This special issue presents papers on socialization and individual development in Mexico and West Africa and among Mexican Americans and African Americans in the United States. Explains cross-cultural influences on development and highlights conflicts between the values of different cultures. Examines some implications of the ideas presented in…

A study conducted in 1987 and two subsidiary studies in 1983 and 1990 examined the relationship between Mexican mothers' schooling and their attitudes to childbearing and childrearing. Results indicated that increased maternal schooling was related to the reception of more prenatal care, greater use of contraception, and smaller size of families.…

An ethnographic study analyzed parent-child socialization in Mexican-American immigrant and first-generation families in California. Collectivism characterized the childrearing of the immigrant parents and remained a value for the first-generation parents, though socialization practices shifted in an individualistic direction. Both generations…

Reports findings from interviews of 389 Nso parents or grandparents. Found that traditional values were widely endorsed but that mothers, parents, and urban respondents expressed less indigenous viewpoints than did fathers, grandparents, and rural respondents. Also discusses topics related to the socialization, learning, and social interaction of…

Transcribed the speech of 3 African-American mothers and their 19- to 27-month-old children over a 9-month period. Compared to the language of Euro-American children described in earlier studies, the language of these African-American children developed similarly in length and semantic-syntactic relations but included more talk about needs, wants,…

Interviewed children, teachers, women street traders, and professionals about children's street trading, or vending of goods, which is an aspect of children's responsibility training in Nigeria. Concluded that values learned in street trading have become maladaptive with schooling; and street trading maintains traditional values of family and…

Distinguishes between voluntary minorities or immigrants and involuntary minorities who came to another culture against their will or as refugees. Also distinguishes between primary cultural differences that existed before two cultures met and secondary differences that arose after contact. Argues that involuntary minorities have difficulty with…

Reviews "Cooperation and Prosocial Behaviour" (Hinde and Groebel); "Psychological Development of High Risk Multiple Birth Children" (Krall and Feinstein); "Early Prediction and Prevention of Child Abuse" (Browne and others); "Strategies des joueurs d'Awale" (Reitschitzki); "Children's Understanding of…

Over a 100-day period, 6 children between 9 and 21 months were videotaped interacting with their mothers while the children were learning to walk, eat, and dress themselves. Found that mothers supported dependent behavior before tasks were begun; dependent and independent behavior when children were learning tasks; and neither dependent nor…

To establish baseline data on South African children's behavior, observed 80 children at home and interviewed the children's primary caregiver. Gathered data on patterns of interaction and language use, content of activity, and use of objects. Presents general biographical and behavioral data, notes gender differences, and compares this data to…

Observed five-year olds playing with a friend and rated the children on dimensions of relationship using the Dyadic Coding System and the Dyadic Relationships Q-Sort. Found that both measures captured similar variation in friendship quality. Also found a congruence between friendship quality and father-child attachment as previously measured at 13…

Four- and nine-year olds and adults were presented with rules about wearing clothes that were stated without justification, with a goal, or with a description of clothes items necessary to obey the rule. Subjects were then asked to judge several types of transgressions of the rule. Found a strong effect of type of transgression on subjects'…