Willingness to Self-Disclose among Late Adolescent Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

The primary aim of this study was to compare the willingness of sexually abused (n = 22) and non–sexually abused (n = 36) late adolescent women to self-disclose both general and sexual information to strangers and intimate partners. Results, based on a sample of college women, indicate that those who were sexually abused in childhood are less likely than nonabused counterparts to be highly disclosing of sexual and general information to intimate partners. Avoiding extensive disclosure of personal information to intimate partners may serve to keep survivors of abuse at a relatively safe distance from their own dysphoric feelings and suggests that mistrust of others is an ongoing issue for this population.     

The Government as Litigant: Further Tests of the Case Selection Model

We develop a model of the plaintiff's decision to file a lawsuitthat has implications for how differences between the federalgovernment and private litigants translate into differencesin trial rates and plaintiff win rates at trial. Our case selectionmodel generates a set of predictions for relative trial ratesand plaintiff win rates, depending on the type of case and whetherthe government is defendant or plaintiff. To test the model,we use data on about 474,000 cases filed in federal districtcourt between 1979 and 1994 in the areas of personal injuryand job discrimination, in which the federal government andprivate parties work under roughly similar legal rules. We findbroad support for the predictions of the model.     

Assessing faculty research productivity in graduate public policy programs

This study assesses the faculty research productivity of 23 graduate public policy programs, and is based upon data from the Social Sciences Citations Index. The results clearly show that a handful of policy programs have outstanding research records: UC Berkeley, Princeton, Michigan, Chicago, Duke, Carnegie-Mellon, Rand, Syracuse, and, of course, Harvard. Most of the rest also have quite commendable records by this criterion.Inquiries regarding this study should be addressed to Professor Fred Thompson, Graduate Program in Public Policy and Administration, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, where Michael Farber is currently a second-year student. Patricia Powers graduated in 1983 and is currently employed by ICF in Washington, D.C.