This descriptive study compared 13 definitions of humor and 11 theories of humor as related to creativity. It found two core definitional themes (integration and incongruity) and three core theoretical categories (play/spontaneity, release/relief, and incongruity/unexpected relationships). Tables provide comparative analyses of definitions and…

Discusses the difference between skills, values, and personality traits and competencies. Defines competency as a cluster of related knowledge, attitudes, and skills that affects a major part of ones job; correlates with performance; can be measured; and can be improved. (JOW)

Asserts that typological thinking, the belief that individual differences diverge around an underlying type of essence, has persisted regarding mental retardation and prevents the appreciation of individual differences and human dignity in the mental retardation field. Past and present controversies over the definition of mental retardation are…

Summarizes the points made by M. Scriven and adds some evaluative comments by the present author. Scriven's notion of minimalist evaluation is given a strong "thumbs-up," but his definition of evaluation receives a "thumbs-down" for not standing up to close scrutiny. The checklist methodology Scriven proposes is endorsed enthusiastically. (SLD)

Presents a broad definition of "testlet" and suggests a framework for classifying types of testlets. Considers several issues that bear on the conceptualization of testlets and analyses of scores from tests composed of testlets. Suggests some research topics that seem particularly important to advancing the meaningful and appropriate use…

The term child sexual abuse has never been unequivocally defined, which inhibits research, treatment, and advocacy. Early researchers used broad, inclusive definitions that are still used today. Discusses the consequences of these definitions, suggesting strategies for reducing definitional ambiguity (e.g., allowing the definition of child sexual…

This paper considers changing concepts of what mental retardation is, its causes, and prevention in the context of the 1992 definition of the American Association on Mental Retardation. A format to improve the designation of etiology and to relate etiology to prevention and support is offered. (Author/DB)

Metaanalysis of health literature compared definitions of spirituality in occupational therapy discourse with other fields. It was concluded that the central goal of evidence-based occupational therapy practice should be formation of occupational identity, while respecting and understanding the personal meaning of spirituality to the client.…

This document outlines the definitions and the typology now used by Statistics Canada's Centre for Education Statistics to identify, classify and delineate the universities, colleges and other providers of postsecondary and adult education in Canada for which basic enrollments, graduates, professors and finance statistics are produced. These new…

This document was prepared by the authors to support their report "Job Requirements and Lifelong Learning for Older Workers." This document contains the following sections: (1) Definition of variables; (2) Descriptive statistics; and (3) Additional figures. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.) [Funding for this document was provided…

As we all know, different people hold different views about politeness. To be polite, Leech thinks you should follow "Politeness Principle" while Levinson suggests paying attention to others' "Face Wants". Sometimes what the Chinese people considered to be polite may not be true according to western culture. In order to…

This paper examines the notion of "competence" in the VET systems of France and England. While both countries have developed "competence-based" approaches, underlying the similar terminology are distinct meanings, rooted in the countries' institutional structures and labour processes. A key distinction is identified between a…

Individual teachers have the largest single school effect on student performance. Documented experience also indicates that individual teachers in high-poverty schools can effect rapid, dramatic student learning improvements within their own classrooms. Organization-wide change of a similar magnitude takes a broader effort with daring leadership…

In this note we develop a framework that makes explicit the inherent dynamic structure of certain mathematical definitions by means of the four facets of context-entity-process-object. These facets and their interrelations are then used to capture and interpret specific aspects of student constructions of the concept of solution to first order…

Funding, equity, and efficiency of higher education are three dimensions of higher education that have been of increasing interest to scholars and policy-makers during the past two decades in Europe and elsewhere. Analysing these phenomena and the relations between them is the main topic of this paper, considering the funding system as the basic…