This research examines the relationship between gender, controlling one's spouse, and the effect this control has on staying married as expressed in marital commitment. The authors examine structural and cultural views as a way of theoretically understanding the relationship between gender, control, and commitment. The results suggest that both theoretical processes may be operating. The expectations tied to men's and women's structural positions and the control that these positions imply for interaction (the structural view), as well as what control means for men and women and the responses that follow from this meaning (the cultural view), appear to be simultaneously operating in marital interaction. These results suggest that cultural meanings and social structural meanings coalesce to produce predictable outcomes for commitment in marriage.

Examinations of social movements have typically overlooked the organizational context of social-movement agencies as well as the role of agency employees in shaping the larger movement. This study explored meso-and micro-level forces that affect the battered women's movement, as found in one particular women's shelter. The findings suggest that although the larger social movement may encourage the examination of battering from a systemic perspective, shelter workers adopt a more narrow, psychological interpretation. Shelter workers adopt this perspective because of the socialization that occurs within the shelter context itself, which employees then replicate to be seen as competent.

An historical overview of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion considers both the aspirations of the founders and the extent to which those aspirations have been realized, modified, or exceeded. Appropriate secondary sources are reviewed for an understanding of the intellectual and organizational contexts giving rise to the Journal and for a qualitative consideration of its earliest decades. Then we introduce quantitative data derived from tabulations of all articles and research notes that have appeared in the Journal beginning with its inception in 1961 through 1998. Major trends across time are identified in theories, methods, topics, author characteristics, editor characteristics, and other important traits. The article concludes with evidence of the Journal's premier and significant impact on the social‐scientific study of religion.

This study examined student learning outcomes for accelerated degree students as compared to conventional undergraduate students, disaggregated by class levels, to develop strategies for then closing the loop with assessment. Using the National Survey of Student Engagement, critical thinking and oral and written communication outcomes were examined. Within-and between-group learning outcome differences with freshmen and seniors in both instructional formats were tested to determine if instructional goals were met and student learning transpired. A quantitative, single case analysis method was used to determine significance with the items relating to these outcomes. Results indicated that seniors in both instructional formats typically reported greater engagement scores than freshmen, and that accelerated students tended to report more engagement than their conventional counterparts. These findings were most robust for the critical thinking outcome. Ramifications for student learning and relevant instructional formats are then explored, so as to close the loop with assessment.

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