Reviews selected papers on fragile X syndrome, a chromosomal anomaly involving a fragile site on the terminal region of the long arm of the X chromosome. Prevalence, recurrence risks, associated developmental disorders, diagnostic screening, and treatment are discussed. (Author/BN)

A Monte Carlo study, involving 6,000 "computer subjects" and three raters, explored the reliability of the inverse screen test for cluster analysis. Results indicate that the inverse screen may be a useful and reliable cluster analytic technique for determining the number of true groups. (TJH)

Supports articles in this "Educational Leadership" issue by Robert Salzer and by Lorrie A. Shepard and Mary Lee Smith concerning overtesting for developmental maturity and school readiness. Underlines differences between screening and readiness tests and sets out criteria for selection and usage--to determine appropriate services for young…

The Draw-a-Design and Draw-a-Child, two subtests of the McCarthy Scales, are the best-normed drawing tests for children aged two and a half to eight and a half years but have no age-corrected deviation scaled scores available for interpretation. Scaled scores for use in interpretation are presented for these tests. (Author/NRB)

First-Grade Screening Test scores of 72 kindergarten children were compared with end-of-year kindergarten performance and midyear achievement testing in first grade. Results suggested moderate predictive utility. Strong relationships with concept-learning and direction-following tasks indicated that the test's construct validity needs to be…

Suggests a strategy for researchers and caregivers to use in asking children about their parents' drinking. Use of the CAF survey item (children from alcoholic family) in the CASPAR (Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism Rehabilitation) Project is described, and reliability and validity data presented. (JAC)

Presents a screening instrument, the HRCA Vulnerability Index, involving 11 items concerning functional deficits in personal care, instrumental care, mobility, and mentation. Data from samples of community elderly, home care clients, and residents in congregate housing facilities (N=7,795) are analyzed to explore the potential usefulness of the…

Due to the interactive nature of teaching, effective communication skills are necessary. Two measures of preservice teacher communication ability were tested to determine predictive validity with respect to instructional performance. Recommendations for relating teacher performance to teaching effectiveness and for improving preservice teachers'…

The predictive efficiency of Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME) with 51 infants from low-income families at-risk for developmental retardation was assessed. At both 6 and 18 months, the discriminant function of the HOME was found to be moderately sensitive in identifying children in the low-IQ group. (Author/CL)

The California Test of Mental Maturity, Short Form (CTMM-SF) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) were compared in a sample of Black and White children (N=155). Results indicated that ethnicity was the only significant effect, with Black children obtaining lower scores than White children. (LLL)

Used the Stroop Color-Word Test to measure selective attention in learning disabled (N=45) and nonLD (N=50) children. Results indicated that LD children have a significant weakness in the process of selective attention compared to the nonLD children. Findings suggested that the Stroop is an effective screening measure. (JAC)

Teachers can identify children with word finding problems through a classroom survey (appended) which provides profiles of expressive and receptive language patterns. Intervention includes compensatory programing and remediation (such as rehearsal of vocabulary). (CL)

Examined the validity of a rationally developed biographical questionnaire for predicting content valid test performance for electrician applicants (N=221). Results showed that the utility of the questionnaire in screening applicant populations was both statistically and practically significant. (LLL)

Results indicated no significant differences between conditioning procedures in regard to obtained MRLs (minimum response levels) number of stimulus presentations required to establish MRL (discounting conditioning trials), and number of false-positive responses observed during control trial for 60 premature infants at one or two years of age.…

Examined the congruence between conventional cutoff scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and selected diagnostic classifications of the Research Diagnostic Criteria in a sample of 102 elders seeking psychological treatment. Findings supported the utility of the BDI as a screening instrument for identification of clinically depressed…