This document comprises the entire output for the journal for 1998. The first article is in the form of a modified excerpt from an article by Donna I. Ali of the University of Calgary on "Multiple Intelligences and the Writing Process: Some Implications for Teaching." The article investigates why writing is difficult for some and easy for others,…

Standards in numeracy are a constant concern to educational policy-makers. However, why are differences in arithmetical performance so marked? In "Individual Differences in Arithmetic", Ann Dowker seeks to provide a better understanding of why these differences in ability exist, encouraging a more informed approach to tackling numeracy…

It is a common belief that children will thrive if educated amongst better class and schoolmates. It is a belief that guides many parents in their choice of school, and has important implications for policy on school choice and organisation. Many studies have tried to measure this "peer-group" effect, but the enterprise is plagued by…

This study examined the SAT® II: Writing Subject Test as a predictor of writing performance in college English courses. Writing performance was based on eight writing samples submitted as part of regular course work by students in eight colleges. The samples consisted of drafts and final papers submitted in response to four take-home writing…

This study explored possible configurations of the new SAT® critical reading section without analogy items. The item pool contained items from SAT verbal (SAT-V) sections of 14 previously administered SAT tests, calibrated using the three-parameter logistic IRT model. Multiple versions of several prototypes that do not contain analogy items were…

Found that increases in cognitive complexity and construct system abstractness significantly related to the use of (1) a greater number of persuasive strategies; (2) more listener-adaptive persuasive strategies; and (3) formation of more complex and abstract impressions of interaction partners. (PD)

A refined and extended analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach was used to investigate the pattern of relationships among arithmetic ability; reading ability; and general ability as assessed by teacher ratings and standardized tests, over a three-year period, with 54 educable mentally retarded children, initially 12 years old. (Author)

Discusses the importance of accurate cognitive assessment and its relationship to effective instructional programing. A disparity between competence and performance can occur across a variety of populations due to task and situational demands and motivational and personality factors. Recent approaches aimed at lessening the gap are discussed.…

Discusses changes in testing as a result of the availability of extensive inexpensive computing and some recent developments in statistical test theory. Describes the role of the Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT) and modern Item Response Theory (IRT) in ability testing tailored to each student's knowledge and ability. (JAC)

Effect of science instruction on young children's (N=64) concept of Piagetian physical causality was investigated. Results indicate, that pre/concrete-operational children can learn and apply a definition of living when that definition is taught through observable characteristics. Additional results and implications for elementary science…

Cross-cultural research findings are summarized in an effort to inform multicultural educators of subtle differences in how children from various cultures learn. Differences in spatial conceptualization, cognitive learning, nonverbal communication, personality, and general attitudes are discussed. Research methodology is noted. (PP)

Recent court decisions are reviewed to clarify what schools must do to help non-English-speaking children. Court decisions indicate that: (1) educational programs must be theoretically and practically effective; (2) labeling and grouping procedures must not intentionally discriminate; and (3) teachers must be adequately trained. (PP)

Increasing concern in art education for the student's learning needs in both cognitive and affective domains requires that attention be given to more than "products" developed. The creative learning process is strengthened by attention to personal as well as product outcomes. (Author/MLW)

Experimental results indicated that verbal intelligence was the best predictor of childrens' overall performance on a paired-associate learning task. Teachers' ratings provided a surprising degree of predictive efficiency for abstract recall which was redundant with verbal intelligence. (Author/JAC)

Suggests that the verbal score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test is not an adequate criterion for assigning students to remedial communication instruction. Concludes that the communication skills deficit model demonstrates the capacity for consistent measurement of communication skills if evaluators are trained to use the same decision-making…