A developmental model of mental activity is proposed, describing central processing skills that are metaphorical in nature. This metaphorical thinking, in which semantic fields and knowledge domains are juxtaposed to enable individuals to perceive similarities between prior knowledge and unfamiliar situations, enables individuals to develop toward…

The purpose of this study was to replicate the "basic training" structural model in Patterson's (1982) coercion theory, extending its scope to single-mother families with younger (six- to eight-year-old) boys. Significance of the successful replication was seen to lie in implications for the generalizability of the model across family…

Two computer-intensive procedures are presented for dealing with non-random selection in the development of samples for experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey designs associated with educational research. The procedures are randomization tests to clarify treatment effects and bootstrap techniques to estimate the uncertainty of…

Results of two experiments with five-year-olds indicated that: (1) conservation can be quickly taught with lasting results; (2) training on a limited range of exemplars will produce generalized correct responses to other, untrained classes of conservation problems; and (3) children's explanations of their judgments change as a result of exposure…

Proposes a model of mathematics conceptual development consisting of two phases: abstraction and generalization. Illustrates model by references to the development of multiplication and angle concepts. (19 references) (MKR)

A formal model is presented of the statistical properties of molecular behavioral matching. The model indicates that aggregation effects should be controlled in analysis of matching and that comparison of molecular theories of matching performance affords ideographic analysis of choice behavior. (SLD)

Effects of choice of data analysis program on outcomes of meta-analysis were studied by considering the extent to which four commonly used Schmidt and Hunter validity generalization-based meta-analytic software programs produce identical outcomes. Differences were minor and did not influence outcomes. (SLD)

This study found that 10 children (ages 9-10) with language impairments showed significant differences from 10 children with normal language in English bound-morpheme skill levels, ability to generalize English bound-morphemes to novel words, and ability to learn novel bound-morphemes attached to novel words. (Author/JDD)

This study examined the relationship between productive phonological knowledge and generalization learning patterns in nine phonologically disordered children (ages three to five). Although all subjects exhibited equivalent levels of knowledge and received identical training, three different generalization learning patterns were observed.…

Examined generalization of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and enhanced behavioral marital therapy (EBMT), which added cognitive restructuring, affection exploration, and generalization training to BMT. Both techniques were effective in decreasing negative communication behaviors and cognitions across settings for couples (n=26), but there was…

This article reviews general classes of variables which help to maintain aberrant behavior including attention seeking, sensory and perceptual consequences, and access to materials or activities. Suggestions for a methodology providing a comprehensive functional analysis are offered which include descriptive analysis, hypothesis forming,…

A practical theory is offered for probing external validity, the generalization of causal relationships. This alternative theory is built around five principles abstracted from research on construct validation. It emphasizes purposive sampling for theoretical ends rather than random sampling to represent a population. (SLD)

Draws on evolutionary biology to provide implications for the case study method, to promote a better understanding of contingency, and to confirm the status of case study. Argues that contingency unites the details that make the case portray part of a greater category and that make it a unique instance. (DSK)

This study, with 30 preschool children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 30 controls, found a dissociation between limited learning of training targets (words, affixed forms) and limited bound-morpheme generalization (BMG) performance. Results suggest limited BMG reflects problems not with storage or access of facts but with the…

Performed a meta-analysis of reliability estimates for Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (A. Beck and others, 1961) scores across studies. Only 7.5% of studies reviewed (n=1,200) reported meaningful reliability estimates. Analysis results suggest that standard errors of measurement should be considered in addition to reliability estimates when…