Twenty-seven American Indian children (ages 4-12), 10 with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and 17 normally developing control subjects, were administered the Test of Language Development. FAS children exhibited depressed performance on most subtests. The older FAS children presented syntactic deficits whereas the younger FAS subjects presented more…

The time required for 96 children (ages 8-15) with and without learning disabilities to interpret emotions based on from facial expressions, and the accuracy of those interpretations, were investigated. Children with learning disabilities were less accurate and spent more time identifying specific emotions. Both age and sex influenced response…

Used observation and teachers' ratings of preschoolers' social adjustment to the peer group to study the concurrent validity of social participation categories. Social participation categories of withdrawal and interactive play were well validated by other measures of social adjustment. Parallel play was correlated only with task involvement. (BB)

Investigates second, fourth, and sixth graders' reasoning about interrelationships between parental authority, friendship, and sibling relations. Children's conceptions regarding legitimacy of and obedience to parental rules prohibiting friendship vary as a function of reasons given for rules. (Author/BB)

The Dutch study examined the co-incidence of age-associated mortality and morbidity among older persons with mental handicap. Persons with Down syndrome had much higher mortality rates at age 40 and older compared with other retarded adults. Retarded adults over 50 were found to have decreased motor functioning, mobility, linguistic skills, and…

Inconsistencies in adolescents' self-reports of sexual behavior were studied for 758 rural adolescents (eighth-grade students in rural Maryland) who completed surveys over 3 years. Consistency rates fluctuate depending on the measure of sexual behavior, the racial/gender subgroup, age, and prior sexual experience, but the majority present…

The relationship between marital status and academic achievement was studied for 199 single and married students with and without dependents at a community college. Married students were more likely to have higher grade point averages (GPA) and to be older. Having dependents is not a significant predictor of GPA. (SLD)

Outlines a general theory of childhood victimology, with a typology that characterizes abuse as extraordinary, acute, or pandemic. Efforts to prevent childhood victimization must recognize its differential character and the importance of the child's stage of development in recognizing and dealing with victimization. (SLD)

Differences in component processing skills of students of different ages and developmental changes over 1 year were studied for 96 students in grades 2 through 4 and 59 of them in a follow-up. Results trace the development of component processing skills and suggest a theory of the development of component skills. (SLD)

Studied age trends in solving correlational problems involving over 2 continuous variables 100 Canadian students in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11 and a postgraduate college preparatory year; 278 seventh graders; and 120 tenth graders in 3 experiments. Correlational reasoning skills increased with age and improved through instruction. (SLD)

Presents guidelines for providing suitable play and learning spaces for children from birth to 3 years old. Argues that toddlers have developmental needs different from those of older preschoolers, and that environments must be designed appropriately. Recommends that room arrangements for toddlers provide simplicity, options for seclusion and…

Responds to the most commonly asked questions and criticisms regarding the Third International Mathematics and Science Study's assessment of students at the end of secondary school. Answers cover differences in age and grade levels, differences in enrollment rates, definitions of the U.S. advanced mathematics population, unbelievable numbers,…

Investigated whether preschoolers had acquired event knowledge schemata, and the impact of an inductive reasoning training program on knowledge transfer in story recall tasks. Found that inductive reasoning training led to knowledge transfer in kindergartners but had only minor influence on prekindergartners. (Author/KB)

This seven-year study investigated facets of preschoolers' activity choices and use of physical facilities, including the effects of specific play sites on social relationships. Results showed that group makeup, and gender can affect play choices, while relationships between physical environment and play were undetermined. Different patterns of…

Hypothesizes that older, graduate, and non-U.S. students would express a greater belief in Max Weber's "Protestant work ethic" (PWE), that posits hard work and delayed gratification as bases for achievement. Finds that younger students, male students, and foreign students have the strongest beliefs in the PWE. Explains the findings. (DSK)