The authors examined whether college students' race was related to the modal race of their identified career role models, the number of identified career role models, and their perceived influence from such models. Consistent with A. Bandura's (1977Bandura's ( , 1986 social learning theory, students tended to have role models whose race was the same as their own, and this finding held among career role models who were not members of students' families. Caucasian and racial minority students did not differ respecting overall number of, and perceived influence from, career role models. Career intervention and research implications are discussed.Understanding more about the unique issues and concerns of racial/ethnic minorities is important (Bowman, 1993;Chung, Baskin, & Case, 1999). Because they may face stereotyping, discrimination, and environmental barriers, individuals who are racial/ethnic minorities may experience unique career development challenges (Herr & Cramer, 1997). For example, a scarcity of same-race role models may be a barrier to some racial minority individuals' career development (Bright, Duefield, & Stone, 1998;Chung et a!., 1999;Haas & Sullivan, 1991;Hamann & Walker, 1993) because there are disproportionately fewer racial minority professionals in many career fields and academic settings (Fouad, 1995). The assumptions behind this theoretical postulate are that role models ofone's own race serve functions that models of a different racial/ethnic background do not serve and that people consider race when selecting career role models. However, although they may be theoretically likely, these assumptions have not been tested empirically. The purpose of this study was to examine how frequently college students' career role models are ofa similar racey'ethuicity as that of the student and to determine whether there are differences in the extent of influence from career role models among college students from different racial/ethnic groups.

Technology has become an essential part of human life and it has significantly changed the behaviors of individuals. One of the popular applications of technology is the smartphone and it has an inseparable relationship with modern teenagers. With the improvement of technology, many teenagers use their mobile phones for playing games. Teenagers use these games for multiple purposes such as a hobby, for relaxation, to be adventurous, and for gambling. Most of the time it is started as a hobby but sometimes it becomes an addiction. The current study examined the impact of mobile phone game addiction on Sri Lankan teenagers. The main objectives were to identify how mobile phone game addiction affected their academic performance, aggression, self-identity, physical health, mental health, and family relationships. The study was conducted according to the qualitative research method. Six teenage participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that the influence of mobile phone game addiction differs according to the amount of time they play. From the participants’ point of view, mobile phone gaming is a major barrier for academics and physical health and it increased their aggression. Results show that it has no powerful effect on self-identity and mental well being. Its effect on family relationships is neutral. Most of the participants wanted to stop playing games but a few didn’t see anything wrong with playing mobile games. More research is needed to identify reasons as to why they are addicted to games and how to rescue them from mobile phone game addiction.

The significance of family structure on the well-being of family members is a major concept to be discussed in contemporary society. There is an impact on the overall well-being of the families due to the lack of major relationships. Hence, the major consequences that lead to the sole responsibility of children to mothers differ among locality, culture, language, etc. This study explores the psychological well-being of single mothers in relation to their role in the family, the major concepts that impact the psychological well-being, the impact of parenting, and the modes in which the single mothers cope up with the challenges they encounter. This is a qualitative (exploratory) study conducted with nine participants chosen from a convenient method of sampling located in the Kandy District of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The sample of the research includes three each of widowed, divorced, and separated mothers. The data is thematically analyzed based on the challenges, the economic well-being, and relationship with the family and the society, the ideologies about the current status, society’s stereotypes, autonomy, the satisfaction to the present life, and their future expectations. The results of the study demonstrated that the responsibility of children, the financial crisis, confronting the society, and lack of emotional dependence to be the major challenges of single motherhood. It further stated that most of them had a strong relationship with their children and the family in comparison to the society, they found themselves to be often treated by stereotypes, and that they preferred autonomy in women. The findings of the study demonstrate that the Government should help them with self-employment, assist in the studies of their children, and conduct certain awareness programs to enhance their lives.

This research adopted the qualitative research methodology to study teachers’ ability to identify students with learning difficulties. The study was conducted in the Udawalawa region of the Ratnapura district of Sri Lanka and it provided teachers with a tool to help identify pupils with learning difficulties and facilitate their learning using adaptive instructions to meet their needs. The study highlights the challenges that pupils with learning difficulties face in the selected school. The findings provide insights into how teachers can identify pupils with learning difficulties in the classroom and provide suggestions for skill development of the teachers in the school. The sample studied included the two subject teachers and eight class teachers. The average age of the pupils studied was found to be eight years. The convenient sampling method was adopted for the study. Study revealed that teachers were aware of pupils with learning difficulties but not the specific type of learning difficulties that they experienced. Teachers also were not well equipped to use adaptive instructions to meet their needs. The study concluded that there was a gap as far as the teachers and their learners were concerned and that this needs to be further analyzed.

Adolescence is a test of new and different behaviors and part of the natural process of separating from parents, gaining acceptance and popularity with peers, developing a sense of identity, autonomy, independence, and maturity, seeking fun and adventure, and or rebelling against authority. Hence, according to the view of some adolescents, engaging in alcohol, tobacco, and the use of other drugs may be seen as a functional way of achieving independence, maturity, or popularity along with other developmental goals. Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in most countries. Many university students are taking cannabis and other illicit drugs. The main objective of this research was to identify the reasons behind the usage of cannabis among Sri Lankan undergraduates, undergraduates’ attitudes towards the use of cannabis, and Cannabis subculture of undergraduates. The purposive sample included six undergraduates who are excessive users of cannabis. Three participants were from the University of Peradeniya and the other three participants were from the University of Colombo. The study used a qualitative research design comprising of semi-structured individual interviews and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the most influential reasons to use cannabis were, to reduce stress and anxiety, being an early user, the special feeling felt after using cannabis, to enjoy life and due to the freedom afforded at University; to maintain relationships and to build new relationships with others; to be a hero among others, a perceived increase in academic performance and because cannabis is always available at the university premises. It is important to pay attention to this debilitating issue among our future generations.