Recognizes and supports the implementation of foreign language courses that meet the specific needs and abilities of the "young-old" (people between the ages of 55 and 75). Differences particular to this population include course expectations, learning difficulties, and teaching strategies. (CB)

Describes a study of Eugene, Oregon, secondary school students which was conducted to determine patterns of microcomputer usage at home and at school; microcomputer activities engaged in at home and at school and time spent on each activity; and relationship between home and school use of microcomputers. (MBR)

Examined the speech patterns of three- to eight-year-old children. Results showed that the children most often used "ah" phenomena and unfilled pauses as do adults. "Ah" phenomena showed a significant increase with age, especially between five and six among the females. (SRT)

Native French speakers (N=56) were critical of French slang expressions spoken by French youths. A previous study found that the native speakers considered Americans' use of the same slang even less acceptable, suggesting the need for careful consideration of teaching such terms in French-language classrooms. (Author/CB)

Two experiments examine use of defining, characteristic, category, and identical semantic features of word concept information in cued recall. College adults and 7- to 11-year-old children were shown word triplets in which context words were related or unrelated to final target word. Results suggest meaning features differ in providing medium for…

To explore the developmental course of racial attitudes, a study assesed racial attitudes in Black children aged four- to five-years and six- to seven-years-old, focusing on reasons for age-related changes in children's attitudes as well as the role of parents in the development of children's attitudes. (HOD)

The 121-item Children's Interest Inventory was administered to 517 children in grades four through six. Teachers also rated each child's scholastic, social, and creative ability. Factor analysis revealed nine boys' factors and eight girls'. Interests were not related to ability ratings, somewhat related to grade, and highly related to gender.…

Reviews the research on the effects of family violence on the psychological/behavioral adjustment of children in shelters for battered women. Offers several recommendations based on this research for serving preschool and school-age children residing in these shelters. (BB)

Examines the effects of age on hearing children's oral rather than written story production and whether there are age-related changes in the signed productions of deaf children comparable to those observed in hearing age-mates. (HOD)

Examines cognitive processing and semantic influences on the developmental patterning of everyday social explanation in a cross-cultural investigation undertaken among American and Hindu adults and children (ages 8, 11, and 15). (HOD)

Tests causal models of verbal and performance IQ in 69 Mexican-American children of low socioeconomic status. Years of mother's education were correlated with IQ at 3 years and at 6 to 8 years, but traditional/nontraditional attitudes showed conflicting correlations over time. The adequacy of standarized IQ tests for this population is questioned.…

Interviews with 73 home and center childcare providers indicated that, while there were differences between home and center providers in frequency and duration of parent-provider discussions, this may have been a function of setting. Age, educational background, and experience had significant influence on exchanges between parents and providers.…

University of Michigan faculty members were interviewed on matters related to their careers. The data were analyzed with regard to productivity, promotion rate, and perceptions and values of faculty with respect to the weight that research, teaching, and service are given in promotion decisions. (Author/MLW)

First, fourth, seventh, and tenth graders were timed when solving simple and complex addition problems, then were presented similar problems in untimed interviews. Manipulation of confusion between addition and multiplication, where multiplication answers were given to addition problems (3 + 4 = 12) indicated an interrelatedness of these…

Causal interpretations of story characters' helpful behavior were examined in first, fourth, and sixth graders, and in college-age students. Subjects heard stories featuring actors' anticipations of eight different consequences for helping. Differences in ratings of actors among age groups were discussed. (Author/CI)