A reliability study is illustrated in which subjects are judged on a dichotomous trait by different sets of judges, possibly unequal in number. A kappa-like measure of reliability is proposed, its correspondence to an intraclass correlation coefficient is pointed out, and a test for its statistical significance is presented. (Author/CTM)

This paper examines the nature of concepts and conceptual processes and the manner of their formation. It argues that a process of successive abstraction and systematization is central to the evolution of conceptual structures. Classificatory processes are discussed and three levels of abstraction outlined. (Author/SJL)

Assesses the effectiveness of different child-generated classification schemes on preschool children's memory performance. Children who organized pictures according to taxonomic categories (e.g., animals, vehicles) demonstrated significantly greater recall than children classified as nontaxonomic. (Author/MP)

Report by the Education Advocates Coalition which compiles information regarding the practice of assigning minority students to classes for educable mentally retarded children. Discusses the refusal of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped to remedy this situation. (MK)

Investigated two dimensions of a typology of police officers: perspective and passion. Test results indicate these dimensions failed to identify the four police types proposed by W.K. Muir relating to dimensions of: the professional, enforcer, reciprocator, and avoider. The four types appear as general characters defined by several dimensions.…

The Biglan model and its tests are reviewed. While the model has attractive features and may even reinforce popular opinion about differences among departments or subject areas, further investigations are necessary before broad propositions or generalizations can be advanced. (MLW)

Assesses preschool children's preferences for eight snack foods and tests procedures to modify preferences for certain foods by having children sort foods according to self-determined categories. Enhanced preferences for target foods generalized to other foods in the same category only for children using semantic sorting categories. (Author/DB)

Explores the hypothesis that speech acts cannot be located without bringing in knowledge beyond that of the textual referent itself. Points out that speech acts are made up of sentence context pairs through which one must search for a formal motion of context as a framing of speech activities. (FL)

The paper reviews recent major policy and legal changes in the United States concerning programs for handicapped students, with emphasis on the "least restrictive environment" principle. A set of ten "clusters of capability" is proposed to define some of the new or enlarged areas of responsibility of regular teachers. (Author)

Provides a model for categorizing marital and family skill training programs according to their theoretical orientation. Describes emotional, reasoning, and action approaches to intervention which allow counselors to examine the relationship between client characteristics and intervention approaches. (JAC)

Outlines the kinds of contributions picture postcards can make to library or museum materials, particularly to historical files as documentation of certain aspects of history. Various methods for putting collections of cards in order are described, from general policies concerning use and disposal, to sorting, indexing, and housing. (Author)

Evaluates the effects of an intensive period of dramatic play upon the cognitive structures of 12 three- to five-year-old children. (CM)

Findings suggest that a woman will obtain a different Holland code depending on what instrument or what set of scales within an instrument is used to establish that code. This phenomenon could reflect sample characteristics equally as much as any bias in the measures. (Author)

Meltsner classified evaluators as technicians, politicians, entrepreneurs, or pretenders, based upon differing expectations norms, training, and motivations. This role-perception study of evaluators in a large urban school district supported Meltsner, although few technicians or politicians emerged. (CP)

Presents a model to rewrite existing competency statements in standardized format to eliminate nonspecific, confounded, and missing competencies. Examples of the application of the model are given. (Author)