This study analyzed informal Finnish compositions written by the first pupils in Vaasa (Finland) who were taught Swedish by immersion method and the compositions of their parallel class. Compositions in the fourth and fifth forms were compared. The immersion pupils were taught mostly in Swedish, while their peers in the parallel group were taught…

Results reaffirm the notion that retarded individuals are less adept at recognizing familiar forms haptically than visually. (Author)

Adults' ability to track a moving target was examined in two experiments in order to compare their performance with that of very young infants. Results indicated that (1) adults'"overshoot" errors resembled those reported for young infants; and (2) adults had problems tracking a moving target which unexpectedly changed direction. (Author/DB)

A Type VI error results from inconsistency between the researchers' question of interest and the statistical procedures employed to analyze the data. An example of a research problem is analyzed to show the increase in statistical power resulting from improved research design, using multiple regression instead of analysis of variance. (CTM)

Concludes that training in oral language skills may be critical to improving the reading performance of beginning readers. (FL)

A computer program named BUGGY is described. The program is designed to duplicate "traditional" student mathematical mistakes; pupils are to identify the nature of the errors the computer makes. (MP)

Diagnostic interviews were conducted with third graders to determine why they made mistakes on sixteen arithmetical tasks. A modified version of the Newman method of analyzing errors is discussed and applied to these interviews. (MP)

Research conducted at a German teachers' college revealed that in English instruction at a "Comprehensive" School, equal amounts of corrective measures were devoted to each of the various types of errors. It is recommended that differentiation be made between the importance of the categories of errors. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a complex form completed annually by millions of postsecondary students applying for federal financial aid. Errors frequently require resubmission. It is suggested that cognitive psychology principles that help describe how people understand text and complete forms be applied to a redesigned…

Three studies investigated the comprehension of sentences containing the focus particle "only" by children and adults. Contrary to previous findings, two of the studies found that young children made errors predominantly by failing to process contrast information rather than errors in which they failed to use syntactic information to…

Three studies investigated preschoolers' reasoning about ability. Findings suggested sensitivity to mental state information when judging another child's ability, and they perceived positive correlations between effort and academic success, and "niceness" and high academic ability. Comparisons with 9- to 10-year-olds suggest that…

Synthesizes findings from observational classroom research on corrective feedback and presents an observational study of patterns of error treatment n an adult English-as-a-Second-Language classroom. Examines the range and types of feedback used by the teacher and their relationship to learner uptake and immediate repair of error. (Author/VWL)

Proposes strategies for reducing foreign language anxiety in the classroom: (1) discuss feelings with instructor and other students; (2) relax, exercise, and eat well; (3) prepare for and attend every class; (4) keep foreign language class in perspective; (5) seek opportunities to practice the language and accept errors are a part of the learning…