Contends that American journalists operate by behaviorist standards of "objectivity." Compares the transcript of a murder trial with newspaper coverage of that trial and finds that the latter reveals a prosecution bias in focus, choice of ideographs, journalistic qualifiers, and audience participation. (PD)

Describes criteria used for selecting learning/study skills textbooks for college freshmen in a required developmental reading course. Contains a checklist used to analyze 47 major textbooks. (FL)

Analyzed 3,056 articles in four magazines ("Audubon,""Environment,""Time," and "Saturday Review" from 1959 to 1979) to determine their role in the diffusion of an ideology of social change (environmentalism) and its translation over time into substantive concerns. (PD)

Results do not support the contention of textbook publishers, presidential commissions, and some educators that the reading difficulty level of English, science, or social studies textbooks has eased considerably in recent years. (FL)

Presents a validation procedure for the Computer Literacy Examination: Cognitive Aspect, a test assessing high school students' computer literacy levels. Steps in the test's construction process are explained, data collected during its validation phase are analyzed, and conclusions on its validity and reliability are discussed. The final test…

Examines how much and what kind of reading comprehension instruction is provided in the student textbooks and teachers' editions of five social studies programs at the fourth- and sixth-grade levels. Concludes, among other findings, that direct instruction in skills is rare. (HOD)

Surveyed instructors of public relations courses and found they emphasized a decision-making style for the public relations practitioner, one that combines elements of managerial roles with those of a communication technician. (PD)

Discusses the results of a study in which 130 college composition textbooks were examined in order to determine the role that expressive discourse plays in the teaching of writing at the college level. (DF)

Tests the hypothesis that second language (L2) students' approach to text reflects a top-down processing strategy in contrast to first language (L1) students' approach that is more text-driven. Results confirmed L2 subjects studied the texts less efficiently than L1 subjects. (HOD)

Describes a study which examined reviewers' treatment of controversial juvenile books in Booklist, Bulletin of Center for Children's Books, Horn Book, and School Library Journal. The total number of controversial books reviewed by each journal, promptness of reviews, and extent of discussion of controversial features are discussed. (MBR)

Examines the social perspectives presented by a sample of the Children's Choices books to determine if the protagonists' behavior is primarily individualistic or shows concern for the group or community. Concludes that the books tended to espouse the self as the focus for activity. (FL)

Analyzes and compares the content of four reading journals for the years 1973 and 1983 on eight categories of comprehension instruction and three categories of comprehension follow-up and reveals an increase in the number of articles focusing on comprehension issues and practices. (DF)

Suggests that information librarians should analyze instructors' course descriptions and syllabi, and use that information for creation of library study guides and other service supports--clarification of assignment, collection development, library information guides, anticipatory reference, instruction, course improvement, include guide as part…

Examines the role of various word features (versatile letter combinations) and basal text factors (word repetitions) in the developing word recognition skills of 93 first-grade students. Indicates that the text to which children are exposed early in first grade may differentially shape their word identification strategies. (HOD)

Presents findings from a search of 21 years of National Society for Performance and Instruction (NSPI) publications and conference programs undertaken to determine yearly trends in number of articles and talks, organizational affiliations of speakers and writers, types of presentations, and topics. A context taxonomy and recommendations are…