Search

Cites the results of the study conducted by social scientists from Rutgers University stating that views of state politicians on abortion rights may not affect how people vote for them. Use of the results of the 1989 gubernatorial and state-legislative elections in New Jersey and Virginia; Need for voters to see the issue as important before abortion policy can affect a political race.

The article discusses the National Institute of Health's sanctions against researcher C. David Bridges, a biological sciences professor at Purdue University, for allegedly plagiarizing the work of Harvard University scientists. The charges have renewed questions about the occurrence of intellectual theft and the integrity of peer review process. Scientific and medical journal editors cite the impact of plagiarism on the balance scientists attempt to keep between openness and secrecy.

Reports that scholars in the West are being drawn to Eastern Europe's tumultuous transition to democratic governments and market economies. Scholars' attempts to look for explanations for why a number of steps toward a market economy have turned out to be more complicated than expected; Search for useful historical analogies to the changes; Difficulties of privatization.

Reports on the appeal of the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment to scientists to set priorities for research projects in their disciplines and help policy makers weigh the merits of research across disciplines. Difficulty in setting the criteria scientific research should be evaluated; Contractual relationship between scientists and government leaders; Comment of American Psychological Society executive director Alan K. Kraunt regarding the setting of priorities.

Focuses on historian Frank J. Solloway's findings indicating that psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud is guilty of intentionally suppressing or distorting facts that contradicted his theories. Freud's effort to gain publicity and institutional power for the field of psychoanalysis; Increased scrutiny of Freudian theory; Erroneous and outmoded assumptions used by Freud as basis for his psychoanalytic concepts.

Reports on psychologist and Cornell University associate professor, William Cross' research on the origin of the conventional wisdom that the average black American has been scarred by self-hatred. Presentation of the evidence supporting the assumption during the 1954 case, Brown v. Board of Education; Cross' discovery that the assumption, used in psychological studies about Afro-Americans, is based on interpretations of evidence from a research involving a small number of black children.

Reports on the controversy stirred by the increasing use of film by visually-oriented anthropologists in the U.S. Debate over ways scholars describe other cultures; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on higher education.

Focuses on the use of mitochondrial DNA as an analytic tool in various areas of studies. Biomedical scientists' discovery of explanations for patterns of diseases and mechanisms by which genes can contribute to illness; Animal ecologists' reassessment of their ideas about how new species arise; Anthropologists' rethinking of their notions of human evolution.

Focuses on the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in New Orleans. Reminder for environmental scientists to pay equal attention to both cultural and biological diversity in effort to save tropical forests; Loss of ethno-ecological knowledge of tropical forest people; Reduction of human adaptability in the future.

Reports on the dispute between Ekkehart A. Malotki, a linguist and scholar of Hopi religion, and the Hopi tribe over the pending publication of his book 'The Hopi Salt Journey'. University of Nebraska Press' publication of Malotki's book; Concerns over censorship of researchers studying American Indian cultures; Tribal leaders' criticisms on the impact of the book on their culture.

Reports on the controversy over organizations' return of Native American remains to their tribes. Stanford University's turnover of its collection of Ohlone Indian remains to the tribe in 1989; States that have laws to govern the return of Indian remains; Warnings given by anthropologists that material for anthropological studies would be lost; Impact of the policy on university collections.

Discusses papers presented in a symposium on blushing which took place at the June 1990 meeting of the American Psychological Society. Possible purpose served by blushing during the course of evolution; Social function of blushing; Distinction between blushing and anxiety; Similarity of blushing to the appeasement gestures that are prevalent in interactions among primates.

The article reports that measures of economic progress are being revised by economists in developing and developed countries to take into account environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. Half a dozen countries are looking into methods of environmental auditing. Economists disagree amongst themselves over how to go about making the changes to practice.

The article reports on a plan to create National Seismograph Network, a national network of state-of-the-art seismographic stations, in the U.S. Scientists are hope that the network will provide the opportunity to explore various facts related to seismology. William L. Ellsworth, a geophysicist and other seismologists worry about the finance of installation and maintenance of the network. An existing system of regional stations that badly need improvements is the main cause of their worry.

The article focuses on a novel approach adopted by scholars in studying science. In this new approach, scholars want to unravel the cultural and ideological influences that shape the content of the scientific theories. European scholars have applied ethnomethodology to a new field called "laboratory studies" in which anthroplogical investigations of how scientists construct a common meaning about the physical world occurs.

The article reports that the debate over a politically charged issue have been renewed by the two studies which have concluded that abortions have little negative psychological impact on women. According to the representatives of anti-abortion groups, the studies are methodologically flawed and biased. On the other hand, the American Psychological Association has supported the claim and praised the methodological design of the two studies.

The article reports that the ornithology laboratory at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has installed state-of-the-art computer and acoustic technology to enable scientists around the world to go several steps beyond collecting and listening. The Bioacoustics Research Program is designed to provide an environment in which Cornell scholars can work together to answer common questions about the role of sound in the natural world.

The article focuses on renewed attention interest among academics in tackling intellectual agenda on urban studies due to fiscal and environmental crises and a crumbling infrastructure. Despite the no-confidence vote of several organizations on urban studies during the 1960's, dozens of other universities have since established urban affairs centers of widely varying scope and structure.

The article focuses on the opinions of engineers Ian G. Buckle and Piotr D. Moncarz on the complexity of determining the cause of the collapse of the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland, California during the October 1989 earthquake. Other engineers have speculated that the cause of the collapse is the structural deficiencies. Buckle and Moncarz suggest that engineers should rethink both their principles and their practices to prevent such accident.

The article reports that psychologists and sociologists are studying the effect of earthquakes in California. Most Californians will not suffer serious, long-term emotional effects in the months and years following the October 1989 earthquake. The best people to cope with the disaster are the ones that are able to return to some normalcy to work and school, as quickly as possible.

The article reports on the findings of a study about the effects of pushing children in the U.S. to succeed academically at an early age. Pushing children to succeed academically in preschool years could increase their mental stress. The children also failed to maintain their initial academic advantage over their less-pressured peers.

The article presents information on the effects of the computer age on the humanities. According to Ronald F. E. Weissman, who is assistant vice-president for academic computing at Brown University, in the past decade, a sea change has taken place in humanities computing and almost half of the faculty have computers of their own. According to sources in academe and the computer industry, in order to ascertain the number of scholars who use computers, a comprehensive nationwide survey is needed.

This article presents information on the anger of some of the American anthropologists over the decision of Stanford University, Palo Alto, California to return the remains of ancestors of the Ohlone-Costnoan tribe, an American Indian tribe, for their re-burial. The anthropologists fear that such action could hamper the prospects of future research by compelling other institutions to return ancestral remains.

The article reports that scientists have been looking at the creative works of neurologically impaired artists as a window into the inner workings of the brain. Example of artists who have suffered brain damage include Vincent van Gogh and Jackson Pollock. Van Gogh's addiction to absinthe may explain some of his bouts with hallucinations and his attempts to eat his paints. It was also speculated that the neurological ravages of alcohol may have influenced Pollock's abstract expressionism.

The article reports on the federal support for social science research in the United States. It focuses on funds for social science at the National Science Foundation. The article reports on Stanford University political science professor Paul M. Sniderman's attempt seek funds to study people's attitudes and behavior toward blacks.

Reports on the continuing shortage of women in science in the U.S. Tendency of women to drop out of science programs; Report released by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and National Research Council on the status of women in technical fields; Programs to keep women in scientific fields.

Reports on the claim of geologist Robert M. Schoch that the Great Sphinx in Egypt is older than generally believed. Examination of patters of weathering, erosion on and below the surface of the Sphinx; Search the an evidence of precipitation.

Reports that some social scientists have uncovered information about the interactions between ethnicity, race and class in the U.S. Reasons why some disadvantaged groups in Chicago, Illinois fall into the state of chronic poverty and welfare dependency; Rates of illiteracy, impoverishment and imprisonment among black men; Notion of the culture of poverty.

Reports that German scientists Bert Sakmann and Erwin Neher were awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research into the process of cell-to-cell communication. Other Nobel Prize awardees; Developments in cell biology; Groundwork for treatments for such diseases as cystic fibrosis and epilepsy.

Reports that the best thing a creditor can do to collect delinquent payments is nothing. Computer program called PAYMENT to help General Electric Co.'s financial services business; Collection strategies; Testing of the program.

Reports that some historians who examined allegations that Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized parts of his doctoral dissertation say the incident has substantially altered their views of King's character. Allegations by Clayborne Carson, a historian who directs the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University; Provision of a full report and supporting materials by Carson.

Presents several updates on scientific discoveries around the world. Discovery of the fossilized bones of a Neanderthal in France, believed to be the youngest that scientists have yet discovered; Confirmation of the 18th satellite of Saturn from the photographs taken by the Voyager spacecraft; Discovery of vegetation data obtained by satellites in helping control Africa's tsetse flies.

Reports on the recommendation of a committee of neuroscientists and computer experts to the federal government to finance a series of university-based pilot projects that will create a 'computer atlas' of the human brain. Need of a national network of research data bases; Development of a three-dimensional images of the brain; Allocation of budget for the endeavor.

Reports that the contemporary architecture of metropolitan Washington typifies the postmodern metropolis, according a scholar Paul L. Knox in the June 1991 issue of the periodical 'Annals of the Association of American Geographers.' Changes in economics and culture that shaped Washington's architecture; Transformation of Washington from a government 'company town' to a major hub for advanced financial and information services.

Reports on psychologists' concern that the dependence on students as research subjects has led them to construct a faculty picture of human nature. Presentation made by psychologist Robyn M. Dawes at a meeting of the American Psychological Society; Social psychologists' increasing reliance on college students as subjects for their research and theory development.

Reports that researchers attending a 1991 conference in Washington, D.C., to assess the needs of health research on women have called for additional research on problems specific to women in recognition of the gender differences in mental illness and its treatment. Move by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to establish an Office on Women's Health; Areas of women's mental health which researchers are looking into.

Reports on the discovery of living, dormant bacteria in the intestinal remains of a mastodon that died 11,000 years ago in Ohio. Factors that permitted the bacteria to survive so long; Discovery of a cylindrical mass of reddish-brown plant lying near a mastodon's ribs; Growth of vegetation in the formed pond; Absence of bacterial metabolic requirements at the dormant state.

Focuses on the public perception of former U.S. President George Washington. Image of Washington as democrat and aristocrat; Changes in the image of Washington with the rise of industrialism; Concept of collective memory used by scholars to analyze Washington's image.

Discusses the cultural and economic impacts of increased tourism worldwide and how it is offering opportunities for scholarly research, as of May 1, 1991. Reasons why there is an increase in the number of tourists who are traveling around the world; Focus given by scholars on environmental and cultural issues; Positive impacts of alternative tourism.

Discusses a study of grading at Williams College and other colleges and universities suggesting that lowering the average grade in humanities and social science courses might increase enrollment in science courses. Relationship of grading systems to a student's academic ability or skill before taking an introductory course; Views of students on grading policies of colleges and universities.

Reports that social scientists are catching up to their counterparts in the natural sciences by shaping an agenda for research on the consequences of global environmental change. Goal of helping policy makers better understand the social factors that influence such changes; Hope to foster a closer relationship with scholars in the natural sciences.

Cites key research findings in 1991 asserting that much of the conventional knowledge about the make-up of immigrants from Mexico is wrong.

Reports on the debate among geologists on whether the polar region enjoyed a near-temperate climate three million years ago rather than being blanketed by ice, following the discovery of well-preserved leaves in Antarctica. Description of the leaves compressed by subsequent layers of ice; Finding that the leaves are remnants of the southern beech tree.

Reports on the costs and benefits of deception in nature and society, according to professors in the U.S. Presence of deception at every level of the organization of life; Strategies of deception in animals and plants; Role of self-deception in human disasters; Western cultures' bias against deception.

Reports on the finding that people prefer to get both good and bad news at the same time according to researchers from Duke University. Suggestion that people see themselves as having a finite, but renewable set of resources to cope with losses and to savor gains; Preference of people to combine a social gain in another area.

Highlights the serious implications of baby talk or the sounds adults direct to infants. Parents' intuitive adoption of vocal rhythms that will help to cue their infants to other's emotions; Psychologists' assessment of the messages and psychological implications of baby talk; Effects of pitch and intonation changes; Effects of the modifications to speech intonations, timing and rhythm when parents talk to infants.

Reports on the research project by scientists in the U.S. to reassess influential theories developed in the 1930s by Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget concerning the cognitive abilities of infants. Study of children's mental development; Profile on Piaget and her theories; Emphasis on the connections between how an infant comes to learn about the various characteristics of objects and how adults assess scientific theories and form common-sense conceptions.

Details findings of anthropological studies indicating that Amish communities are a dynamic and diverse group. Description during the 1990 annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association of the ways in which various Amish groups have adapted to changes in the outside world; Background information on the Amish people; Intrinsic presence of diversity in life styles and social practices found in Amish communities.

Reports that scientists in the United States have identified an inherited genetic mutation that places carriers at increased risk for some of the most common cancers among adults. Results of a study of tissue samples taken from the members of families afflicted with the Li-Fraumeni syndrome; Research on tumor-suppressor genes.

Reports on the questions raised by the disclosure that Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized portions of his doctoral dissertation and other student papers. Questions for the scholars serving as advisers to the project of editing King's papers; Questions about the effect of the disclosure on scholarship, on the civil-rights movement and on King's image.