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In telephone interviews with 671 Summit County, Ohio, residents, the order of response alternatives to 7 dichotomous questions was experimentally varied to test the prediction that, in a survey, an alternative would be selected more frequently when presented first -- a primary effect. No support was found for this prediction. Instead, all of the response-order effects were in the direction of recency effect that an alternative is chosen more frequently when given last -- & 4 out of 7 were statistically significant. The recency effects tended to be stronger for less educated persons, which suggests that they are due to question difficulty. 2 Tables, 1 Chart, 12 References. Modified HA

White resistance to desegregation & affirmative action, despite significant declines in traditional prejudice, has led some to argue that a new symbolic racism has emerged as the principal impediment to racial change in the US. Studies of opposition to busing, however, suggest a nonracial or rational choice explanation: whites oppose busing because it is believed to have too many costs & not enough benefits. Using telephone interview data collected in Akron, Ohio (N = 242 adults), a multiple indicator model is estimated for the effects of traditional prejudice, symbolic racism, & rational choice on four types of opposition to busing -- negative attitudes toward either two-way or one-way busing, protest, & white flight. Traditional prejudice & symbolic racism are found to be partially independent dimensions whose effects on busing opposition are entirely mediated by certain expected costs of busing. Thus, the findings support both racism & rational choice explanations. There is, however, no support for the notion that symbolic racism is a more important source of opposition to racial change than is traditional prejudice. 4 Tables, 1 Figure, 1 Appendix, 38 References. AA

After discussing response effects in mail surveys found in earlier research, their generalizability to different populations is investigated in an analysis of mail survey data obtained from 323 households in Akron, Ohio, during spring 1986. Examined are the effects of question order, response order, no opinion filter, & middle-response alternative, as well as the results of acquiescence experiments. Findings generally support earlier studies which found that order effects were eliminated in mail surveys; however, one question-order effect & a response-order effect were also found. Results on acquiescence wording (agree-disagree form) not included in earlier studies are discussed. 6 Tables, 1 Appendix, 21 References. Modified AA

With the current emphasis on early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, it is increasingly common to receive the diagnosis of impairment before functioning is seriously compromised. People in the early stages of cognitive loss experience distress related to their current and future functioning and yet are capable of participating in psychosocial treatment or support. Although most published studies deal with services for caregivers rather than direct practice with the cognitively impaired person, there is a growing body of clinical and research reports on psychosocial interventions offered directly to people with early cognitive loss. These interventions are aimed at alleviating the stress, depression, and anxiety while promoting a positive outlook. Gerontological social work practitioners and researchers are well positioned to further develop, implement, and evaluate these promising intervention approaches with early-stage cognitive loss.