Evaluates the effectiveness of a computer-based training program designed to improve music students' ability to judge harmonic intonation. Concludes that undergraduate conducting students who took part in the Harmonic Information Training Program (HITP) for nine weeks outperformed a control group in discrimination tests. Reports mostly positive…

Examination of interaction between hospital staff and nonnative speakers of English touches on institutionalized models of interaction and attempts to characterize typical exchanges at various points during patient processing. Results show that communication difficulties can arise both intra- and cross-culturally, primarily from differentiated…

Illinois educators (n=314) were surveyed to examine their attitudes and perceived ability to work with students with handicaps. Respondents were willing to teach students who were gifted or had physical handicaps, but not students with mental handicaps. The survey also assessed specific types of support/resources preferred by teachers. (Author/JDD)

Examines how control theorists believe behavior results from individuals' internal standards reacting to environmental change. Argues that this belief requires a new research method, a test for the controlled variable, which seeks variables that do not change with a stimulus. Presents features of William Powers' control theory. Suggests sources of…

Examination of 23 4-year-old children classified otitis media negative or positive during their first year of life indicated that otitis positive children required a more advantageous signal-to-competition ratio for sentence intelligibility, compared to otitis-negative peers. No intergroup differences were found in receptive or expressive language…

This study explored the influences of social, psychological, and cultural determinants of underachievement as perceived by 148 intermediate grade African-American students in gifted, above average, or average academic programs. Psychological factors played the greatest role in underachievement or poor achievement motivation. Underachievement…

This study compared the phonological awareness ability of 11 children (ages 6-8) with persistent phonological impairment to that of 11 phonologically normal children. Phonologically normal children scored higher on three of the four phonological awareness measures, with no differences on word recognition. Speech intelligibility was a significant…

Describes a study designed to achieve the following goals: (1) compare the perceptions of learning environment in biology and chemistry classrooms by Jewish and Arab students; (2) identify gender effects in the Arab sample on learning environments; and (3) compare the perceptions of Arab students in rural and city schools. (ZWH)

The journal's executive editor considers current and future societal trends and their implications for people who are blind and visually impaired. He notes effects of the developing mosaic society, changing demographics showing large increases in minority populations, the developing information society, redefinitions of individual and societal…

The author of a survey of 254 college public relations officers (HE 531 785) describes briefly the underlying definitions, design, and results of the study, and makes comparisons between this and an earlier study of college presidents. Discussion of methodology focuses on respondent characteristics and consistency of definition. (MSE)

Sixty-five persons with visual impairments were videotaped as they located and learned the arrangement of five objects in a novel space. Analysis of videotapes and verbal self-reports of the 15 best performing participants revealed that they implemented systematic perimeter and/or gridline patterns, utilized their canes efficiently, and…

This study compared the performance on perspective-taking tasks of 8 congenitally blind children (mean age 13.5 years), using either haptic exploration or a vibrotactile prosthetic device, with the performance of 4 children having low vision using their limited visual abilities. The vibrotactile device improved perspective-taking performance…

Discusses the theory and research underlying the use of realistic and compressed images or representational images developed from 1950-80 using print, slides, and film media. Topics include the theories of visual realism, visual realism and instruction, and the foundations of visual compression. (20 references) (KRN)

Two experiments investigated the relationship between family size and "theory of mind." Results from an experiment with three- and four-year olds showed that children from larger families were better able than children from smaller families to predict a story character's mistaken (false-belief based) action. (MDM)

A study investigated medical residents' perceptions of the important components of the clinical teacher's role, and possible differences in first- and third-year residents' perceptions, based on comments written on 268 residents' evaluation forms of 490 teachers. Results suggest this methodology is useful and contributes to definition of the…