Three experiments were undertaken to examine the processing limitations that underlie multiple task performance and, ultimately, to test the theory that there exists a time-sharing ability which is general and can be assessed through the simultaneous presentation of any two or more sufficiently demanding tasks. Subjects were males and/or females…

This paper analyzes the order in which subject, verb, and quote come in sentences in the children's stories about Babar by Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff. It suggests that different constructions have different functions that are exploited by the author for communicative purposes. The paper adds that the order in which these elements appear affects…

A test of curiosity is being constructed with a view to item-content appropriateness for a population of unselected adults. Curiosity may be defined as specific or diversive. It was felt that the two were not synonymous and there was a need to differentiate between them; the test of specific curiosity under construction aims to identify the…

The study was designed to find out what kinds of teacher training products were considered most useful by teachers. Twenty-one teachers were asked to evaluate 125 teacher training products divided into various sets by objectives and complexity of training mode and skills required. There was fairly strong agreement on what products were good, with…

The measurement of a pupil's comprehension development from literal comprehension to evaluation focused on two questions: (1) How do we measure the various types of comprehension? and (2) How should we measure the various types of comprehension? Literal comprehension is presently measured by the recall or memory-type question. However, one should…

Evaluation specialists need to decide when to use quantitative techniques for evaluation and when to use more qualitative techniques. Different situations require different strategies for evaluation. Some factors which can be used to differentiate situations include: (1) Current state of knowledge; (2) cost of the evaluation process in terms of…

Recent research in syntactic complexity has described and specified structural characteristics that distinguish levels of syntactic density. A computer program, written in Programmer Language I for the IBM 370 at Pennsylvania State University, has been developed to apply a syntactic density formula to samples of natural language and provide a…

The play patterns and stimulus preference of 20 preschool children were observed during low and high stress conditions. The stress manipulation was contingent upon the child's preparation for a medical appointment. Heart rate recordings were used as an index of stress. Children manifested a preference toward creative-constructive play under…

This paper presents the results of research from Project REALISTIC, a program of research to determine REAding, LIStening and arithmeTIC requirements for jobs; and the feasibility of substituting listening for reading as a means for instructing men of different mental aptitude levels as measured by the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). Two…

A study was conducted of Tanzanian adolescent school children's responses to filmic elements. The design included a very large sample in a complicated factorial design, varying such factors as color, type of action, background and sound of the film, and the demographic characteristics of the subjects. Results showed that of these variables,…

Preschool children copied peg locations with standardized comparison pegboards aligned horizontally and diagonally and with three levels of pegboard complexity. Error patterns varied with type of alignment and display complexity. Results failed to support Bryant's hypothesis that mirror image confusions are no more frequent than other in-line…

This triad of consulting models identifies the assumption upon which each rests. The consultant with adequate knowledge and self-insight will understand which model is appropriate to a given situation. The three models include: (1) purchase of expertise; (2) doctor-patient role; and (3) consultation process for problem solving. (Author/MFD)

Use of the Rasch model for vertical equating of tests is discussed. Although use of the model is promising, empirical results raise questions about the adequacy of the Rasch model. Latent trait models with more parameters may be necessary. (JKS)

Suggests some ways to overcome the problems connected with the use of the Syntactic Density Score. (DD)