The neural net model of J. E. R. Staddon and A. K. Reid (1990) explains exponential and Gaussian generalization gradients in the same way as the diffusion model of R. N. Shepard (1958). The cognitive generalization theory of Shepard (1987), also implemented as a connectionist network, goes beyond both models in accounting for classification…

Details the philosophical and practical dimensions of five types of validity used in qualitative research: descriptive, interpretive, theoretical, generalizable, and evaluative, with corresponding issues of understanding. Presents this typology as a checklist of the kinds of threats to validity that may arise. (SK)

Technological literacy is based upon the knowledge and ability to use technological systems, ideas, and words. A basic vocabulary for technological literacy is the foundation for technology education programs. (SK)

The first article discusses the need for a standard occupational classification system (SOC), the creation of the 1998 SOC, its implementation schedule, and plans for ongoing development. The second describes the government's industry classification system, tracking its creation through the North American Industry Classification System, which…

Presents a new class of models for person-by-items data. The essential new feature of the class is the representation of persons through membership in multiple latent classes, each of which belongs to one latent classification. Illustrates use of one of these models and compares them to some models in the literature. (SLD)

Discussion of the prevalence of giftedness proposes a metric-based system in which each of five levels of giftedness (in each field of talent) reflects a prevalence that is one tenth that of the previous level. Advantages to the system are identified and application suggests that 30-40 percent of the population is at least mildly gifted in at…

Argues that Waldo and Bauman's Goals and Process (GAP) matrix does not include task/work groups. Claims that it is not in the best interest of group work to undo or rework the Association for Specialists in Group Work's four core groups as a model. States that the field of group work needs a commonly shared framework/categorization from which to…

This response to Waldo and Bauman's article on the Goals and Process (GAP) matrix addresses two categorizations of group work: specialty groups and the GAP matrix. Briefly describes them, discusses their application to therapeutic groups for childhood sexual-abuse adult survivor groups, and proposes some adaptations. (Author/MKA)

Claims that Waldo and Bauman's Goals and Process (GAP) matrix improves the ability of both researchers and practitioners to communicate in more sophisticated terms about the goals and processes of various groups. Proposes that the GAP matrix be revised without retaining the original categories because they are obscure and obsolete. (MKA)

Presents an ongoing series of experiments with the TREC (Text Retrieval Conference) Interactive Track that test the feasibility and effectiveness of using clustering and classification as an aid to retrieval and answer construction. Results indicate that the success of the approach depends on assessing the quality of the final answers generated by…

Proposes the use of the group overlap concept as a basis for determining effect size. Group overlap may be assessed via prediction of group assignment, using predictive discriminant analysis. The effect-size index proposed is that of improvement-over-chance "(I)" classification. Makes some suggestions for cutoffs of "I" values…

Outlines an exploratory multidimensional scaling-based approach to profile analysis called Profile Analysis via Multidimensional Scaling (PAMS) (M. Davison, 1994). The PAMS model has the advantages of being applied to samples of any size easily, classifying persons on a continuum, and using person profile index for further hypothesis studies, but…

As sets of heterogeneous databases converge, there is a layering of values into the emergent infrastructure. This layering process is relatively irreversible in that it operates simultaneously at a very concrete and abstract level. (Contains 119 references.) (Author/YDS)

A confusion regarding the number of kingdoms that should be recognized and the inclusion of domains in the traditional kingdom-based classification found in the higher levels of classification of organisms is presented. Hence, it is important to keep in mind future modifications that may occur in the classification systems and to recognize…

A duration-bisection procedure was used to study the effects of signal modality and divided attention on duration classification in participants at high genetic risk for schizophrenia (HrSz), major affective disorder (HrAff), and normal controls (NC). Participants learned short and long target durations during training and classified probe…