Representational competence develops as individuals learn that objects, events, and places can be represented in some form. Irving Siegel's studies of classification competencies showed that underprivileged children have difficulty sorting pictures into meaningful groupings. However, both privileged and underprivileged children construct…

Explores ways of writing the history of information infrastructures. Describes the historical development of the information infrastructure of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), a universal medical classification system. Discusses changing medical information needs and the ICD's advancements in information technology and…

Examined reliability and validity of binge eating disorder (BED), proposed for inclusion in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), fourth edition. Interrater reliability of BED diagnosis compared favorably with that of most diagnoses in DSM revised third edition. Study comparing obese individuals with and without BED and…

Cluster analysis of data from 166 children with autistic spectrum disorders revealed 4 subtypes with differences in behavioral and cognitive areas. The four subtypes include a typically autistic group, a low-functioning group, a high-functioning group (Asperger syndrome/schizoid), and a hard-to-diagnose group with mild/moderate retardation and a…

Describes results of research by the Test User Qualifications Working Group that can be applied to improving testing practices, including 86 test use competencies and 7 factors accounting for misuse; a test classification system; and empirically based test purchaser qualification forms. (SLD)

A sample of chronic postconcussive patients with and without overt malingering signs was compared with objectively brain-injured patients (total sample=106) on common episodic memory and malingered amnesia measures. Findings validate commonly cited malingering measures and new methods of classifying malingering in real-world clinical samples. (SLD)

In the globalized world economy three types of jobs are emerging: routine production, in-person service, and symbolic analysis. In Australia, routine production is still the largest category, females outnumber males in service, and only one in five are symbolic analysts, predominantly male. Vocational education and training must change focus and…

Six experiments examined how children approach the task of learning novel count nouns. Findings indicated that three- and four-year olds function with an antithematic bias and that children do not reliably extend novel count nouns to subordinate exemplars when perceptual similarity is controlled until about age 7. (MDM)

Twenty-two children (ages 5-8) with mild mental retardation who received learning set instruction on unidimensional classification and seriation improved on these precursors to concrete operations; 22 children who received more conventional instruction did not. Improvement on classification and seriation was accompanied by improvement on measures…

A study concerned with factors that may affect three-year olds' acquisition of subordinate categories considered salience of the attribute or attributes that differentiate a subordinate category, presence or absence of linguistic input, and child characteristics. Correlational analyses pointed to a series of relationships between child…

In a cost-effective way to assess training benefits, replies to open-ended questions are analyzed for patterns, and common themes are grouped hierarchically. Trainees perceived benefits in terms of improved professional skills; their managers stressed personal and attitudinal changes in trainees. (SK)

A method is presented for estimating the accuracy and consistency of classifications based on test scores. The reliability of the score is used to estimate effective test length in terms of discrete items. The true-score distribution is estimated by fitting a four-parameter beta model. (SLD)

Three studies investigated the influence of principle-based inferences and unprincipled similarity relations on new category learning by three- to six-year-old children. Results indicated that categorization into newly learned categories may activate self-initiated, principle-based reasoning in young children, suggesting that spontaneous…

This study compared DSM-III-R (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III, Revised), Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and clinical diagnoses of 138 admissions to a program for diagnosis and treatment of autistic and related communication-handicapped individuals. Results indicated generally high agreement on the diagnosis of autism, with DSM-III-R…

This paper assesses to what extent the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) criteria differ from other diagnostic systems for Asperger syndrome. The paper concludes that the variety of criteria in use makes interpretation of research findings difficult and that the ICD-10 criteria are the most stringent and closest to Hans Asperger's…