The Carnegie system of classification of colleges and universities and other such classification systems are criticized as imprecise and potentially misleading. It is argued that an institution's mission statement, which should clearly define the institution and its goals, rather than categorization should be the basis on which decisions are made.…

Three experiments examined how flexibly two- to four-year-old children use the words "big" and "little" in normative, perceptual, and functional contexts. Results showed that children switched easily from a normative context but made errors when asked to switch to a normative context. (MDM)

Cluster analysis of responses from 551 veterinarians (63%) participating in continuing professional education supported Houle's typology of professionals as innovators, pacesetters, middle majority, or laggards, in terms of their attitude toward and previous participation in continuing education, expectations of significant others, and personal…

Children performed well on tasks involving pictures regardless of whether the pictures were named. Performance on atypical pictures was better when category labels were provided than when labels were not provided. A control study demonstrated that children ignored labels when they named a transient, as opposed to a stable, category. (RH)

Presents results of a test of nonmusic majors' ability to remember song titles. Suggests that, although the process of categorization seems to be a basic function of perception, appropriate categorization needs to be learned. Supports the view that music learning, like verbal learning, involves a categorization of stimuli based on holistic…

The objective inmate classification system in use in California's prisons is described. Evaluation of 14,091 cases suggests that the system reduces the rate of increase in the incidence of serious prisoner misconduct. Empirical evaluation of the system is recommended, and implications for correctional programs and public policy are discussed. (SLD)

Some recent methods are presented for analyzing categorical data from complex surveys involving clustering familiar in educational research. Methods that provide first-order corrections to standard multinomial-based chi-square tests by taking into account survey design effects are highlighted. Design-based calculation techniques guarantee that the…

Examines identification of learning-disabled students, comparing advantages and disadvantages of most common discrepancy formulas and multiple regression discrepancy method. Contends that educational and statistical significance of test scores should be taken into consideration during identification process, and consonance between…

Through interviews with 78 vocational instructors, a classification system for leadership effectiveness criteria was developed. The criteria measure the extent to which the leader's behavior (1) improves the quality of the group process; (2) has a personal impact on followers (teachers); and (3) helps the group perform its tasks and achieve its…

This paper summarizes results of a survey of 256,000 individuals in Spain which sought to identify those individuals with impairments, disabilities, and handicaps. The paper also examines the usefulness of the World Health Organization's classification. Results are discussed in terms of prevalence of disability, age, sex, common impairments,…

The typology of planned languages, the number of such linguistic projects, and the most commonly used morphemes for these created languages are discussed. A total of 11 morpheme types are identified. (14 references) (Author/LB)

The knowledge of college students about conditions under which particular reading tactics are appropriate was studied. Results of 2 experiments with 377 college students identified 10 distinct categories of reading situations, which constitute an approximation of a typology of reading situations that could organize research on reading strategies.…

Ways in which the notion of causation is expressed in written British English are examined in a study that collected 130 different expressive devices. The use of causative conjunctions was found to be the most frequent of eight major ways of marking causation, closely followed by causative adverbs. (21 references) (Author/LB)

Responds to the three main articles in this issue with questions concerning the development and use of policy-impact codes (rural-urban classification systems) for specific purposes in policymaking, research, and practice. Questions the necessity for policy-impact codes to ensure equity, adequacy, responsiveness, and appropriateness of rural…

Some researchers have attributed school learning problems to students entering school too early. Investigated relationship between students' month of birth and learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, and speech and language delays in 1,951 identified students with these disabilities. Analysis did not find that late-birthdate children were…