Assessed age differences in speed of processing verbal and pictorial stimuli in young (N=20) and old (N=20) adults responding to traffic signs. Results showed young adults responded more quickly and all subjects responded more quickly to a verbal standard sign than to a pictorial standard. (Author/JAC)

Attention to others' activity increased with age in children ages four to six. Subjects who showed stable gains in performance level across sessions engaged in more observation of others' activity than did subjects who showed only temporary gains. Subjects who showed no gains observed others' activity least. (Author/RH)

Tested the effect of group member interdependence on supervisory performance ratings. Students (N=72) played the role of supervisors in charge of evaluating members of a three-person work group. Results showed supervisors rated the poor performer higher and the good performers lower when the group was portrayed as highly interdependent. (JAC)

Compared the cognitions of low, moderate, and high test-anxious children (N=398) in an analogue test situation. High test-anxious children reported significantly more task-debilitating cognitions, including negative evaluations and off-task thoughts, and fewer positive evaluations, than the other children. (WAS)

Investigated adult age differences in accessing and retrieving information from long-term memory. Results showed that older adults (N=26) were slower than younger adults (N=35) at feature extraction, lexical access, and accessing category information. The age deficit was proportionally greater when retrieval of category information was required.…

Relates the procedures and findings of a study of minimum competency programs (MCPs) in four Ohio school districts, focusing on: (1) operational definitions of MCPs; (2) the effects of MCPs on student achievement; and (3) the usefulness of the evaluation model used in the study for local evaluations. (AYC)

This article reviews research literature on mental practice and preparation for motor performance and research on the effect of specific mental preparation strategies on skilled performance. Strategies discussed include imagery, self-efficacy statements, attentional focus, preparatory arousal, and relaxation. (Author/CJ)

This article explores linkages between stress and effective job performance: while too much stress can lead to burnout, too little stressful stimulation can result in boredom. Generating the proper amount of stress for optimal job performance is discussed. (PP)

Four hundred subjects 8 to 11 years old were given a modification of the Weigl Color Form Sorting Test in an attempt to assess the influence of chronological age, mental age, intelligence, and vocabulary level on the ability to utilize various numbers and different kinds of criteria of classification. (Author/MP)

A sample of male and female college students assessed themselves on six everyday spatial abilities in relation to others of the same gender and age. Males consistently judged themselves to have greater spatial ability. Differential participation in sports is discussed as a tentative spatial performance influence. (Author/CM)

Chaplains and seminary students enrolled in the University of Virginia Medical Center's Clinical Pastoral Program were asked to judge physicians' performances while requesting autopsies by completing a confidential evaluation form. The results of the evaluations were correlated with the physicians' success in obtaining autopsies. (MLW)

Tested the hypothesis that increasing problem complexity elicits strategies of greater efficiency from older adults. Responses of older and younger adults were compared in a version of "Twenty Questions." No evidence was found that older adults seek more efficient strategies. Both groups maintained the same strategies. (Author/JAC)

Reviews studies identifying the attributes of excellent teachers. Discusses prevailing myths about teaching quality that inhibit teacher effectiveness. Suggests ways community college leaders may evidence commitment to excellence through formal evaluation systems, awareness of excellence and incompetence, and identification and elimination of…