In order to alleviate or avoid future shock for themselves and their clients, counselors face three tasks: to become knowledgeable about future trends and needs; to assess their limitations and strengths; and to learn new coping strategies as indicated by their self-assessment process and projected client needs. (Author)

The article presents a statistical brief on the projected numbers of elderly blind and visually impaired persons in the U.S. in the year 2000. Among the projections are that this population will be larger, older, and more predominantly female than it is now. (DLS)

The self-fulfilling prophecy can play a dynamic role in the outcome of forecasts for educational futures. Points out that a situation defined as "real" or true in the present has "real" consequences for the future. (Editor/RK)

Uses new approaches to differentiate three types of models describing intuitive numerical prediction. (Author)

College students in telecourses (n=699) completed personality and attitude instruments. Students most satisfied with telecourses were mature, venturesome, outgoing, practical, relaxed, and studious. Techniques were recommended to help those less satisfied, who tended to be highly anxious, introverted, and less mature. (SK)

Predictive discriminant analysis and descriptive discriminant analysis are described, and the use of three popular statistical packages to obtain computational results for each type of discriminant analysis is reviewed. Results from two Biomedical Computer Program (BMDP), four Statistical Analysis System, and two Statistical Package for the Social…

Two experiments investigated whether children, averaging three years old, used a transition theory in their developing understanding of mind or whether their interpretation moved from a desire-focused theory to a mature theory that attributed a greater role to beliefs. Findings supported a transition theory interpretation over competing…

Modified equations for the validity and reliability of difference scores that describe applied testing situations are examined. This examination reveals that simple gain scores can be more useful in research than has commonly been believed. Simple gain scores are neither inherently unreliable nor lack predictive validity. (SLD)

Argues that although John Gray, Harvey Goldstein, and Sally Thomas treat the notion of trend in an unproblematic manner, as deterministic time trends, movements in data identified by Gray as school improvement trends may not be generated by the deterministic processes they assume. Opines these upward and downward movements may reflect a purely…

The basic confidence scales of the Expanded Skills Confidence Inventory for 715 college students were correlated with confidence for Holland's six themes and basic interest scales of the Strong Interest Inventory. Discriminant analysis indicated that using both interest and confidence measures led to additional predictive power. (Contains 37…

Surveys completed by 78 master of social work graduates 1 month before and 6 months after graduation indicated that 20% found aging-related employment; most had contact with elders and used gerontology knowledge at work. Frequent and rewarding interactions with older clients before graduation were significant predictors of aging-related work;…

The Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and Tests of Adult Literacy Skills were used to place 168 adult literacy students into classes. The 37-minute TABE Locator Test predicted placements as well as or better than the full 3-hour TABE. Therefore, lengthy placement tests for four or fewer class levels may not be necessary. (SK)

Shows how to test the hypothesis that a nonnested model fits a set of predictors when modeling multiple effect sizes in meta-analysis. Illustrates the procedure using data from previous studies of the effectiveness of coaching on performance on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. (SLD)

Outlines an approach to differential item functioning (DIF) analysis using hierarchical linear regression that makes it possible to combine results of logistic regression analyses across items to identify consistent sources of DIF, to quantify the proportion of explained variation in DIF coefficients, and to compare the predictive accuracy of…

A futures perspective is brought to the field of mental retardation with discussion of normal behavior in the past and future, as well as possible effects of the electronic/robotic revolution and the biological revolution. (DB)