This commentary on EC 232 373 and EC 232 374 suggests that a theory that depends on categorizing events as either stuttering or nonstuttering must fail. It evaluates the merit of the voluntary/involuntary distinction in loss of speech production control, defends research on the nature of stuttering, and proposes additional research and theory.…

The article argues that, when judged on the basis of the strength of its research base, J. Renzulli's three-ring conception of giftedness is of questionable validity. Research on all three bases of the definition (above average general ability, task commitment, creativity) is reviewed. (Author/DB)

Describes a game used with Chapter 1 students to develop dictionary and reading skills and to help students grasp what it means to define a word. (MG)

Two experiments, each with 132 undergraduates, evaluated the effects of definition adjunct questions on concept learning. In both experiments, only unmatched application adjunct questions preceded by a definition question produced higher performance on criterion questions than did definition questions only. The effective use of definition…

As institutions increasingly turn to alumni to provide services to their alma maters in such areas as volunteering, donating, networking, and lobbying, alumni research becomes a high priority in academic administration. The term alumni is defined, parameters for alumni research are proposed and uses of such research are described. (MLW)

Examined meaning and maintenance of friend relationships among 41 male and 74 female older adults. Men and women tended to agree on characteristics of friend; gender differences emerged when they differentiated between "friend" and "close friend." Older women were more likely than older men to consider friends made earlier in life as still part of…

Discusses criteria of young children's dramatic play and various definitions of pretend play characteristics. Delineates differences and similarities between dramatic play and drama. Concludes that the term "dramatic play" can cover all kinds of pretend play, including symbolic, representational, imaginative, fantasy, thematic,…

This paper discusses the biological and social views of grammar with reference to recent research on grammar and language acquisition, arguing that grammars are individual constructs existing in the minds of individual speakers. Contains 24 references. (MDM)

This article takes issue with the diagnosis of a group of students as learning disabled as presented in a previous article that focused at learning disabilities in the context of second-language learning. (JL)

A war rages over outcome-based education. There is one primary reason for the OBE backlash: the mastery outcomes are often vaguely worded and associated largely with the affective domain. Supporters'"Aquarian" and "Nostalgist" fallacies do not help. A twofold policy embodying high, uniform, but sensible standards and…

Examines the advantages and limitations of visual aids in second language instruction. Visual aids can be used atmosphere, motivation, focus of attention, context, explanatory support, general comprehension, mnemonic support, cultural insights, and conversational stimuli. Their limitations include focusing attention away from the language,…

Reviews the nature-convention debate over language from the classical period through the 20th century, examining various views as to whether language constitutes a set of wholly arbitrary correspondences between words and things, or correspondences and rules grounded at least partly in something outside language, such as nature. (24 references)…

Comparisons of subjects are specifically objective if they do not depend on the items involved. Such comparisons are not restricted to the one-parameter logistic latent trait model but may also be defined within ordinal independence models and even within the two-parameter logistic model. (Author)

Discusses the ways that the word "quality" can be used in English, as either a noun or an adjective. Outlines numerous ways the word is currently used. (HB)

The definition of mental disorder in the third edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-III-R) explains that a disorder is harmful and represents a dysfunction, but it fails to capture the idea of dysfunction. Ideas for increasing the conceptual validity of the definition are presented. (SLD)