Questions the assumption that behavioral, mental, or cognitive incompetence accompanies the biological aging process. Investigates the philosophical, psychological, social, and cultural-historical bases to this erroneous assumption. Concludes that gerontological psychologists have directly contributed to the negative stereotypes of elderly…

Investigated the test performance of learning disabled and emotionally impaired children to aid in identification and differentiation of the two groups. A cut off score on the WISC-R, WRAT, and MPD was established that significantly separated the groups. The best predictors of achievement varied for the two groups. (JAC)

Critically evaluates the literature through 1977 on the Goodenough-Harris Drawing Test. Areas reviewed are administration and standardization of the man and woman scales, test ceiling, sex differences, the Quality scale, reliability, criterion validity, validity with measures of academic achievement, cultural variables, and use with the learning…

Discusses issues pertinent to the testing of Hispanic children whose learning difficulties may indicate a handicap. Describes the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) (Mercer and Lewis, 1979), reviews the educational status of Hispanic children in the United States, and outlines preliminary findings from the SOMPA II project.…

This study explored the influence of intelligence on the direction of conjugate lateral eye movements during problem solving. The gifted, average, and retarded 13-year-olds tested did not differ. Thus, the premise that intelligence differences influence problem-solving style (as indicated by conjugate lateral eye movements) was not supported.…

Compared the Matching Familiar Figures Test performances of 53 children in grades five and six, identified as being depressed, to performances of 53 nondepressed children. The depressed group had longer latencies, made more errors, and was less efficient, even when intellectual differences were taken into account. (Author)

Questioned whether performance on a measure of learning potential could be significantly enhanced by training, using a group of 60 children. Results showed training enhanced performance on the Raven Progressive Matrices but did not compensate for initial differences between educable mentally retarded and non-EMR students. (Author/JAC)

Surveys trends in hardware (logic, memory, storage) input-output technology, software, computer architecture and organization, communications, and artificial intelligence. (JN)

Separate predictions for educational attainment were made for the young-old (65-74 years) and the old-old (over 75 years) males and females. Results indicated that educational attainment for the young-old in year 2001 will equal that achieved by the 25- to 64-year-old group in 1971. Examines limitations and consequences of intelligence assessment.…

The System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment (SOMPA) is described as an example of the structural and cultural pluralistic model of assessment. Mercer's concept of estimated learning potential is described and the medical, social, and pluralistic models are mentioned. Standardization, test administration, validation, and the manuals are…

Current methods of classifying moderately educational subnormal [ESN (M)] children do not distinguish between organic and cultural causes of moderate retardation. Two experimental studies, based on the techniques of Vygotsky, are described as an attempt to move toward redefinition of this classification. (Note: Page f...=fiche numbers.) (BW)

Using data on 1,438 Reykjavik children, this paper analyzes the influence of social origins, family characteristics, and IQ on scholastic performance in sixth, eighth, and ninth grades. Although IQ is the best single predictor of scholastic performance, both social structural and social psychological antecedents proved important. (Author/SJL)

In an attempt to investigate factors surrounding educational performance among different ethnic and racial groups, several areas are examined: (1) segregation; (2) performance levels and intelligence quotient variables among various ethnic groups; (3) intergroup differences among segregated and nonsegregated groups; (4) socioeconomic variables;…

The author examines the history and impact of two significant but conflicting legal decisions in cases that challenged the validity and cultural fairness of standardized IQ tests: Larry P. v. Riles (California) and PASE v. Hannon (Illinois). (Editor/SJL)

Surveys recent judicial examinations of educational practices, considers the role of psychological testing in efforts to block desegregation, and evaluates legislation concerning the testing process. Available from Maryland Law Review, Inc., University of Maryland School of Law, 500 West Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201. (Author/IRT)