Argues that, given a document and a query, users first judge the document against the individual concepts in the query and then use some inferencing process to derive a compound judgment for the entire query. The research examines the relative effectiveness of probabilistic and fuzzy models at predicting users' compound judgments. (23 references)…

Discusses three topics related to interpretation of discriminant analyses (DA's): (1) partial F ratios and partial Wilks's lambdas for predictor variables in standard, step-down, and stepwise DA's; (2) relation of goals of classification to definition/evaluation of classification rules; and (3) significance tests for total hit rates in internal…

Describes 45 third graders'"dramatic literacy" and the modal sources for inferences. Finds that (1) the more children used visual cues, the more they used verbal and psychological cues; and (2) inferences about the play's theme were related to aural recall of thematic dialogue and what children reported learning from the play. (SR)

Results of five studies suggest that the availability of an object concept in sentences that preceded an unexpected story outcome was a critical determinant of the occurrence of an object inference. The thematic prominence of the object influences the use of the object in an inference. (RH)

Discusses the extent to which computers can understand natural language. Considers assertions that computers can be described as literate, and considers more generally the purpose of designing machines which perform like humans. (RS)

Solution of production or recognition format analogies requires identification of either the inference or mapping relation, but not both as postulated in Sternberg's theory. Additional findings concerning analogical reasoning processes, and a discussion of teaching implications, are included in this description of a study involving 41 eighth…

A quantitative model of belief revision and causal thinking using circumstantial evidence was assessed, using 36 undergraduate students in three experiments. The model assumes beliefs are revised based on a cascaded reasoning process that combines beliefs about the clue/possible cause relationship and the clue's forward and backward implications.…

Investigates student interpretation of research by asking samples of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty questions concerning the implications of random sampling and random assignment. Finds that random sampling is understood while the role of random assignment in interpretation of results is misunderstood. Concludes there is a need for…

Studied the emotional attributions which 60 children aged four-eight gave to a story figure who violated a moral rule. Results suggested a clear change from outcome-oriented toward morally oriented attributions to a moral wrongdoer between the different age groups. (RJC)

Reports on two experiments examining the influence of intensity (the quality of language indicating the speakers'/writers' attitude toward their topic) on inferential processing. Finds that high-intensity passages triggered inference making during recall more readily than did the texts low in intensity. (SR)

Two experiments studied preschool children's ability to infer numerosity from correspondence between two sets. Found that children were able to make inferences as early as three years of age. However, differences between the two conditions suggest production deficiencies in young children's use of counting as a problem-solving strategy when they…

The entire thesis of "The Bell Curve" disintegrates due to biased use of data, misrepresentations, and logical inconsistencies. Five basic flaws are: inferring causality from correlation, use of dubious racial categories, contradictory arguments concerning the immutability of cognitive ability and the relative contributions of heredity…

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…

Argues that meaning is encoded not only in words but also in grammatical categories. These claims are illustrated and documented by analyzing one area of grammar in a number of different languages of the world: that area that is usually associated with the term of "evidentiality." (Contains 25 references.) (JL)

Studies binomial, negative binomial, and gamma regression models and gives a detailed description of inference procedures based on them. The process of model fitting and evaluation is illustrated by examples referring to the determination of endpoints in acute and chronic toxicity tests. (17 references) (Author/MDH)