There are three essential principles that must be met before an activity can be called a game: (1) competition, (2) abstraction, and (3) power. Elements within the principles are varied to give each game a particular style and value. (Author/STS)

To reduce confusion and controversy about the nature of self-care and its consequences for children, this commentary defines the self-care child as one between the ages of approximately six and 13 years who spends time at home alone or with a younger sibling on a periodic basis. (RH)

Advances arguments against defining self-care children exclusively in terms of elementary school students who are home alone or with a younger sibling after school. (RH)

"High technology" is merely the latest technological advances of the day in any technology area. Technology is divided into three broad categories: the physical, information/communication, and biotechnologies. The best way to clear up the confusion surrounding "high technology" is to substitute the term "advanced…

The paper focuses on four representative studies regarding definitions of sexual abuse, describes differences in the definitions used, and examines how such differences may contribute to discrepancies in the estimated prevalence. Historical and legal issues pertaining to the definition of child sexual abuse are also discussed. (Author/CL)

Humorously suggests the discipline of adult education suffers from four ills: (1) Gogymania, (2) Mapomania, (3) Defnimania, and (4) Lexicophilia. Offers possible cures. (CH)

Defines communication and presents a new verbal-pictorial model that views the communication process as a series of steps or functions performed by the participants. Discusses components and strength of the model. (PD)

The article presents results from a large sample of referred and learning disabled children and interprets them as being consistent with the contention that learning disability is a viable concept that can be meaningfully used. The author rejects the premature elimination of the concept in favor of more general constructs, such as low achievement.…

The article presents current information on the definitions states use to determine giftedness, updating a 1977 survey. Charts present components of the definitions, areas of giftedness, and other areas included in the definitions. (Author/CL)

Raises a number of questions about current descriptive definitions of reading. (FL)

The article examines the definition of mathematically gifted, discusses current practices within the field of special education for this population, and calls for an identification procedure which includes qualitative information concerning students' higher-order reasoning skills. (Author/CL)

The author identifies potential factors contributing to confusion over the meaning of rehabilitation, as well as how they affect fulfillment of educational, practice, and credentialing ideals in the field. Recommendations are made to return to a traditional definition of "recovery and restoration" and for specialty descriptors to precede the…

Presents eight definitions of "policy" that are implied in the literature and, by applying these definitions in three policy arenas, notes their differential effects in terms of policy questions, data collected, data sources, methodology, and policy products. (MLF)

Critiques seven reports produced by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) between 1916 and 1934 to establish authoritative definitions for specialized aeronautical terms, and indicates pitfalls of using committee-prescribed definitions rather than studying how terms are actually used to determine what is considered good usage by…