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The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of preretirees that predict perception of the likelihood of their making a move at retirement. The random sample included employees, 40 years or older, of nine land grant universities. Data were collected from 5,662 people via a mail survey and analyzed by frequency distributions and multiple classification analysis. Twenty-six characteristics of preretirees were divided into four variable groups for separate multiple classification analyses. The 10 best predictors were then segregated from their variable groups and combined for a final analysis. Together, they explained 31.1% of the variance in perceived likelihood of postretirement migration. A model of personal determinants of the first postretirement move was created to conceptualize how the characteristics of preretirees interact in producing postretirement migration decisions. The four best predictors were in the perceptions of retirement and relocation variables group. Also, people who thought they would not experience difficulty in makings move, who had decided when to retire but not where, were renters, or who preferred to be near oceans rather than mountains were more likely to perceive that they were likely to move on retirement. Further research could determine if perceptions of likelihood of moving result in an actual move.

Sexual harassment is a pervasive and costly problem in the workplace. Various researchers are pursuing issues associated with occupational self-analysis as a step toward understanding and eliminating sexual harassment. Individuals most likely to be sexually harassed are young, unmarried females—a description that coincides with a description of clothing and textiles students in that most share similar characteristics. This study was designed to clarify the nature and extent of sexual harassment in the fashion retail workplace from the perspective of a group of clothing and textiles students. The study used the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ2) and the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Survey, both designed to measure sexual harassment in the workplace. Data were collected in university classroom settings from students enrolled in clothing and textiles classes during spring semester, 1992 (N = 132). Although 97 students had experienced sexually harassing behaviors, only 41 labeled the behaviors as sexual harassment. The most frequently reported situations involved gender harassment and seductive behavior. Such behaviors constitute “condition of work” harassment and create an offensive work environment. Methods of coping with the behavior were to ignore it, avoid the perpetrator, or ask the person to stop. No respondent had filed formal complaint, grievance, or lawsuit. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that students receive training on all aspects of sexual harassment so that they will be prepared to recognize and cope with it if it occurs.

This article (a) describes a conceptual approach to family development that includes variations in the timing of developmental events, (b) elaborates on the concept of family developmental trajectories, and (c) illustrates the approach through a study of birth timing and parent-child relationships among late adolescents and young adults. The older the mother at first birth, the greater the perceived control of firstborn and only sons and daughters and the greater the perceived control of last-born daughters. The older the father at first birth, the more positive the perceived relationship with his last-born daughter. Implications of these findings are discussed with reference to family developmental trajectories. The courses of these trajectories are influenced by starting point and gender.

The purpose of the study was to examine the involvement of 263 farm wives in decision-making discussions about periodic and continuous business decisions and household decisions during times of economic stress. The operating hypothesis that the perceptions of the decision maker would contribute to the explanation of variance in decision discussion involvement over and above the variance explained by the contextual factors was supported in three two-step regression analyses. The satisfaction about the way money concerns are discussed was positively related to involvement in decision discussions for all three decision content areas. Perceptions concerning the tendency to set new goals increased the involvement in periodic and continuous farm decisions. Perceptions about the amount of respect received increased involvement in periodic farm and household decision discussions, and perceived income adequacy negatively influenced involvement in continuous farm decision discussions. The number of years farming influenced household decision discussions and off-farm work influenced involvement in continuous farm decision discussions.

Seventy years of quantitative studies of the process of fashion change are reviewed and critiqued. Research reviewed studied the fashion process as a continuous, ever-changing manifestation of cultural change rather than the product life cycle of a particular fashion. Strengths and weaknesses of each approach are analyzed from data selection through analysis. The findings are related to one another and to existing theories in an attempt to make cumulative the study of fashion change. Recommendations are given to guide future quantitative research in fashion change.

This study examines the role of welfare benefits in retaining teenage mothers in educational programs. Using data from the 1985 Survey of Income Program Participation, 212 mothers, aged 15 through 21 years, who have one or more children were studied. The findings show that receiving AFDC and WIC benefits, living with parents, and public expenditure on education per pupil in the state positively influence teen mothers' education. Receiving food stamps is negatively associated with the educational attainment of teenage mothers.

This study examined differences in particle release due to various types of human activity and two types of head covering. The number of particles released from female subjects while clothed in a selected garment and different head and face coverings during five types of movements was statistically analyzed. Results indicated that the complete coverage hood, which enclosed the entire head and face, was more effective in containing particle release from head and face areas at minimal activity levels than was the traditional hood. However, at maximum activity involving arm and body twist movements, both hoods were similar in terms of controlling particle contamination from head and face areas.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether three status characteristics—age, gender, and fashionability—affect impressions of elderly persons. Subjects represented three age statuses: young adults (18–34 years), middle-aged adults (35–59 years), and elderly adults (60+ years). Each subject saw one of four photographs, either a 75-year-old male or a 70-year-old female in either fashionable or unfashionable clothing, and gave their first impressions of social class, economic status, sociability, and health. Subjects also drew a stick figure depicting how close they would stand to the person as a measure of social distance. Data were analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, and the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The independent variables (gender of stimulus person, age status of subjects, and fashionability of clothing) yielded significant effects on ratings of social class, economic status, social distance, sociability, and health. Results are explained in terms of status characteristics theory.

This article investigates the effect of provocativeness of clothing and sex of subject on attributions concerning provoking sexual harassment and likelihood of being sexually harassed. A convenience sample of 200 students (98 males, 102 females) was used in the study's 2 (Provocative vs. Nonprovocative clothing) × 2 (Sex of Subject) between-subjects design. The clothing variable was manipulated through the use of photographs. Subjects' attributions concerning the likelihood that the model would provoke sexual harassment were measured by an 8-item scale; the likelihood that the model would be the target of sexual harassment was measured by a single item: How likely is this person to be sexually harassed? Multivariate analysis of variance, analyses of variance, and the Student-Newman-Keuls test were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that subjects rated the model in provocative clothing as more likely to provoke sexual harassment and to be sexually harassed than the model wearing nonprovocative clothing.

This article investigates the importance of fabric quality to home sewers and the salience of attributes (critical characteristics) used in evaluating fabric quality. The sample consisted of 80 home sewers, 20 subjects from each of four fabric stores, who responded to an instrument designed to determine desired purchase information and attributes used to signify fabric quality. Prior to buying fabric for a casual dress, 96% of subjects considered fabric quality important. Physical cues, such as fiber content labels, color/print/design, and fabric hand, were more important than performance cues, such as ease of care and durability. Intrinsic cues were used more often than extrinsic cues as critical characteristics of fabric quality.