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This article has shown that empirical research evidence strongly supports the posited theoretical view that academic self-concept is multidimensional. It is comprised of two uncorrelated and distinctive facets namely, math academic self-concept and verbal academic self-concept. Research studies purporting to investigate the relation between academic achievement and academic self-concept must differentiate between subject-specific domains of the hypothetical second-order latent construct, academic self-concept. The conceptualised multidimensionality of academic self-concept is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of this particular self-concept facet, particularly its potential association with academic achievement. Additionally, it has been shown that individuals utilise two different processes of comparison. The external frame of reference is used to compare one's skill level with that of others' skill level (math and verbal domains); while the internal frame of reference is employed in comparing varying degrees of self-perceived skill levels. The internal/external frames of reference model has been put forward to explain the enigmatic associations between math and verbal achievement and math and verbal self-concept.

This study provides psychometric data on the Inviting School Survey (Purkey & Fuller, 1995) using a rating scale analysis within the framework of the Rasch measurement philosophy (Bond & Fox, 2001; Rasch, 1980). The Inviting School Survey's factor structure and internal consistency are examined and compared with the Invitational Education Model (Purkey, 1978; Purkey & Novak. 1996; Purkey & Schimdt, 1996; Purkey & Stanley, 1991). The Invitational School Survey (ISS) is based on five areas (5 "Ps"): People, Places, Policies, Processes, and Programs. The ISS purports to assess these qualities of the global school climate. Suggestions for further development and refinement of the Inviting School Survey are presented. (Contains 4 notes.)

This study examined the relationship of emotional intelligence (EI) to jobs requiring emotional labour in a sample of 6,874 participants from eleven countries or geographical regions. In particular, the current study examined the relationship of a mixed model of EI, as measured by the Emotional Capital Report (ECR), to emotional labour identified in recent literature as performed by workers in three types of service occupations, customer service, social control and caring. Previous research had reported that individuals high in EI may be more likely to perform well in jobs requiring emotional labour and, as such, emotional labour was an important moderator of the EI-performance relationship. Results of this study supported the existence of a moderate relationship between a mixed model of EI and emotional labour and thus provided further support for this claim. The findings suggest that where jobs require high emotional labour, EI is likely to assist individuals to know both when to perform emotional labour and how to alter emotional behavior to meet organizational goals. Furthermore, when service occupations were examined for the type of emotional labour performed, those in customer service occupations produced significantly higher scores on 8 out of 10 ECR subscales. Taken together, the findings suggest that when considering the EI-performance link it is important to consider both the occupational context as well as the emotional intelligence of individuals. Limitations of the study and future directions are discussed, along with practical implications for both researchers and human resource personnel seeking to improve the job related performance of employees.

Mental Health Court programs have been steadily increasing in number since the late 1990s. This paper described the Victorian model of diversion in the Assessment and Referral Court List within the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. The results of a two-year recidivism study suggest that successful completion of the list significantly reduced recidivism rates. Furthermore, this program is also effective at reducing the severity of offending behaviour post-program completion. Several factors that ought to inform the ongoing development of Mental Health Diversionary Courts in Australia are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]