Four experiments investigated newborns' ability to discriminate, recognize, and learn visual information embedded in the schematic face-like patterns preferred at birth. Results indicated that newborns discriminated face-like stimuli relying on their internal features and recognized a perceptual invariance between face-like configurations in…

A study involving 106 gifted children and 71 typical children (ages 6-9) evaluated the correlation between intelligence and performance on the Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A). Results found gifted children with ADHD performed better on tasks of omission error, commission error, and response sensitivity than typical children with ADHD.…

The role of contextual factors in intelligibility was examined using sentences produced under varying conditions by a speaker with severe flaccid dysarthria. Results indicated that gestures, predictiveness, and context influenced intelligibility. It is argued that when signal fidelity is poor, different combinations of signal-independent…

Discusses the value of training interventions for performance improvement based on the author's experiences with various training events. Topics include making clear expectations; accomplishment-based project planning; understanding performance problems; and participant learning and instructional benefits. (LRW)

This study investigated the self-reported behaviors and attitudes of parents of 17 identified precocious and nonprecocious children. Results found the parental groups were not significantly different and both groups showed desirable to highly desirable parenting behaviors and attitudes. Factors that could influence children's academic achievement…

Presents two methods for evaluating automatically generated hypertext links: one is based on correlations between shortest paths in the hypertext structure and a semantic similarity measure, and the other is based on measuring users' performances using hypertext. Advantages and disadvantages of computer versus human evaluation are discussed.…

Presents the theoretical background for the concept of mastery motivation and describes three characteristics of mastery motivation in toddlers: behavioral manifestations in multiple domains, developmental changes in those manifestations, and the influence of the socializing environment. Implications for assessment of individual differences and…

The validity of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in predicting mechanical job performance was studied with 891 automotive and 522 helicopter mechanics. The mechanical maintenance component of the ASVAB predicted hands-on performance, job knowledge, and training grades quite well, but experience was more predictive of…

Approximately 300 prospective graduate students each wrote two essays for the Graduate Record Examinations in 40-minute and 60-minute time periods. Analysis revealed that performance was, on average, significantly better with the 60-minute limit. There was no interaction between self-described test-taking style (fast versus slow) and time limits.…

A study investigated whether two speech measures (peak intraoral air pressure (IOP) and IOP duration) obtained during production of intervocalic stops would be altered by the presence or absence of a cochlear implant in five children (ages 7-10). The auditory condition affected peak IOP more than IOP duration. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Conducted performance monitoring of at-risk and not-at-risk students in a general biology course for non-science majors, using Marsh's Biomathematical Skills Test (BST), grades, gender, rank, and self-concept and nature of science surveys. Data supported the usefulness of the BST. At-risk students performed less well than not-at-risk students on…

Used hypothetical vignettes to examine 384 preadolescents' understanding of gossip in varying circumstances. Found that children correctly labeled talk about nonpresent others as gossip and considered it inappropriate. Skepticism was higher for gossip than for firsthand information and was greatest with cues suggesting that speakers were…

Administered temporal order judgment and discrimination tasks to children with reading disabilities (RD), with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, with both disorders, or with neither. Found that RD children showed no specific sensitivity to the interstimulus interval and performed worse than non-RD children on speech but not nonspeech…

Clarifies features of Smith et al.'s attentional learning account of object naming, arguing that Booth and Waxman's findings address tenets not in the attentional learning account while not addressing one of the central tenets of the attentional learning account. Suggests that the debate about the nature of children's language and cognition would…

Responds to Smith et al.'s work on relations between perceptual, conceptual, and linguistic knowledge in early word learning and discusses treatment of evidence. Asserts that Smith et al.'s commentary fails to engage data presented and their implications. Asserts that learners seamlessly integrate perceptual, linguistic, and conceptual information…