In one experiment, second and fourth graders used more categorical information when they made inferences than did preschoolers. In two other experiments, second graders, but not preschoolers, distinguished between categorical information and appearance when they made inferences about known concepts and familiar properties. (BC)

Examined effectiveness of group program for spouses (n=42) of frail aging veterans that included support, education, problem solving, and stress reduction. Compared with caregivers (n=47) receiving no intervention, those in group program showed significant increases in use of coping strategies, knowledge of community resources, perceived…

Examines the development and administration of the New Jersey General Intellectual Skills (GIS) Assessment, administered for the first time in 1990 at all public colleges and universities in the state. Describes the GIS's scope and function, scoring procedures, score reporting, faculty expectations, and initial results. (DMM)

Examines ways to understand the experiences of student teachers facing their first practicum work. Preservice teacher education has some of the character of initiation into a community, and it must help student teachers see the deeply ethical and ecological character of their responsibilities. (SM)

Investigated the effects of nonverbal communication during oral examinations by testing two groups of British secondary students, one group in a face-to-face situation. Finds nonverbal effects increased the mean scores by two points but could not conclude that the increase was a result of student appearance and gestures. (CH)

Questionnaire results indicate that, although first-year, undergraduate science students (n=109) recognize the correct sources of energy for organisms, they simultaneously hold misconceptions about other essential, but nonenergy-supplying, conditions as sources of energy supply. Occurrence rates for these misconceptions vary with the students'…

Australian researchers surveyed the practical knowledge of student teachers, focusing on the construct of images of teaching to identify ways in which two student teachers thought about themselves as teachers and how that related to their teaching practice. The paper proposes images as a means of understanding student teacher knowledge. (SM)

A remedial program was designed for Oregon Health Sciences University clerkship students demonstrating adequate clinical skills but inadequate knowledge. In two years, six students were enrolled in the tutorial program. The experience was highly successful for all but one. Participants saw it as one of their best medical school experiences.…

This study examined the knowledgeability of child care workers (n=97) regarding their rights and responsibilities in reporting suspected child sexual abuse. Day care personnel knew significantly less about procedures for reporting suspected abuse and their protection under the law (when compared to child sexual abuse experts). (Author/DB)

Compared truant and nontruant comprehensive school adolescents (n=932). Compared to nontruants, truants had more solvent use, soft drug use, and involvement with hard drugs; were significantly more involved with other problematic behavior; scored higher on all negative social indices; and scored lower on measures of knowledge about drugs and human…

Seven children with phonological disorders were analyzed for imperceptible acoustic distinctions for seemingly homophonous word pairs, and treatment was applied. Results indicate that productive knowledge of sounds and contrasts facilitates rapid learning of those sounds in treatment, and presence of an acoustic distinction for a contrast does not…

Discusses the promises and pitfalls of comparing teachers' work with work performed in other occupations. Comparison reveals teaching to be a complex form of work that requires high levels of formal knowledge for successful performance. Educational reforms can professionalize teaching as they make the work more complex. (SLD)

A survey was conducted of 1,368 professionals in a course on identifying and reporting child abuse and maltreatment. Substantial numbers of professionals had limited knowledge of indicators of abuse and even less knowledge about legal obligations and procedures for reporting. Teachers were no more knowledgeable about indicators of abuse than were…

Groups of first, third, and fifth graders were interviewed 12 months, 6 months, and 1 month prior to national elections to examine changes in their conceptions of the American presidency and of presidential elections. Differences among grade levels disappeared at the last measurement, as first and third graders' knowledge of the presidency and…

Three experiments in the framework of Activity Theory explored the relationship between the questions of 104 male and 88 female adult learners (college students) and subsequent comprehension in a tutorial learning session. Questions asked during knowledge implementation aid comprehension more than do those asked during acquisition. (SLD)