This commentary on a paper by Douglas Detterman and others (EC 604 995), on assessing basic cognitive abilities in young adults with and without mental retardation, argues that variables measuring correct responding and variables measuring response latency or speed are two aspects of the same underlying continuum of speed and efficiency of…

This paper encourages the use of multiple logistic analysis in early intervention research, to assess the degree of association of multiple factors (such as subject or situational characteristics) with a dichotomous outcome (such as benefitting or not benefitting from an intervention) and to estimate the probability of each outcome. (JDD)

Labor market planning techniques must take into account the dynamic nature of economies. A better approach than labor needs forecasting is use of labor market signals developed by monitoring wage and employment changes and evaluating training programs. (SK)

A preliminary scheme for estimating the speech intelligibility of hearing-impaired speakers from acoustic parameters, using a computerized artificial neural network to process mathematically the acoustic input variables, is outlined. Tests with 60 hearing-impaired speakers found the scheme to be highly accurate in identifying speakers separated by…

Different types of earthquakes are described and the ability of seismologists to predict when and where earthquakes will happen is discussed. The reputation seismologists have in regard to predictive ability based on public opinion and the news media is discussed. (KR)

Examines the application of the Fishbein and Ajzen model of attitude-behavior consistency to research in library and information science (LIS). The components of the model are explained, two examples of LIS research are presented, and there is a brief review of areas in LIS that could benefit from attitude-behavior consistency research. (Contains…

This study found that the scores of younger normal subjects (n=60) on tasks involving the sequential recall of words from five categories were equal to scores of older children (n=34) with language and speech impairments. Word category scores predicted language and speech scores, but prediction was stronger in children having impaired language or…

A theoretical model is proposed for confidence in knowledge based on the assumption that people are good judges of the reliability of their knowledge, provided that the knowledge is representatively sampled from a specified reference class as defined by E. Brunswik (1943). Experiments with 177 college students support the theory. (SLD)

Forty-three adolescents with learning disabilities attending a residential school were assessed for externalizing behavior problems and academic achievement in reading, spelling, and arithmetic. Some indices of externalizing behavior predicted some measures of underachievement, but the reverse relation was not evident. Inattention interfered with…

Analysis of a national study of state-operated institutional care for mentally retarded persons is presented. Among findings are dramatic escalation in resident cost, primarily a result of declining institutional census with stable staffing levels. Econometric projections for the year 2000 are offered. (Author/DB)

Factors in alumni giving to colleges are discussed, some aspects of alumni giving to all higher education are forecast, and for illustration, probable giving to one college (Amherst College, Massachusetts) is predicted. Factors considered include alumni numbers, dollar amounts given, and the link between stock market activities and donations. (MSE)

Examines the use of prediction during the silent reading of short stories with surprise endings. Investigates the effects of instructional setting and content familiarity upon overall reading comprehension, literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, and interest. Finds that both inferential comprehension and interest were negatively…

Offers an alternative to the U.S. Bureau of the Consensus population projection for 2050. Discusses alternative mortality, fertility, and immigration assumptions and projection methods that use a baseline scenario of no further gains against mortality. Description of the U.S. population under alternative scenarios include changes in structure and…

The derivation of the variance of similarity judgments is made from the 3-D process in nonlinear psychophysics. The idea of separability of dimensions in metric space theories of similarity is replaced by one parameter that represents the degree of a form of interdimensional cross-sampling. (SLD)

Results of a study involving 438 college freshmen indicated that academic self-efficacy and personal goals contributed to exam performance. In a second study with the same students, the mean exam performance of participants with high self-efficacy appraisals and strong malleability beliefs was better than that of students with low self-efficacy…