Four experiments and an analysis of pooled data from English and Japanese children show a linear increase in understanding false beliefs with number of older siblings; no such effect for children younger than 38 months; no helpful effect of younger siblings at any age; no effect of siblings' gender; and no helpful effect of siblings on a source…

A study investigated how, when, and under what conditions 60 highly successful adults with dyslexia managed to develop high literacy levels. For both men and women with dyslexia, interest-driven reading was key to the development of high literacy levels. Fascination with a subject area was a common theme. (Author/CR)

Studied differences in pointing accuracy in computer-simulated mazes as a function of maze complexity and training effects. Results with 219 college students indicate that, although pointing accuracy remained higher for men, pointing performance can be modified by experience. (SLD)

Examined relationship between children's ability to infer the veracity of an adult's statement and the adult's informedness. Found that children tended to believe utterances from speakers who were better informed than they themselves were and to disbelieve less well-informed speakers, with no age-related differences. Children gave explicit…

A study of 452 inventors found that inventorship is a form of creativity with definitions and criteria and with quantitative measures, inventors with high rates of inventiveness more often have outstanding achievements, and a majority of inventors exhibit a random pattern of inventivity (rate of production of patents by an individual inventor).…

Aims to determine how a fictitious social position of inferiority or superiority affects cognitive activity. Reports on two studies in which subjects interacted with a partner. Finds that what subjects are told about themselves and their partner helps determine the quantity and quality of what they produce. Proposes theoretical explanations. (DSK)

This study involving 144 gifted high school students found self-efficacy was positively related to math achievement, was moderately and positively related to self-regulation, and was negatively related to worry. Also determined that learning-goal orientation is positively related to self-regulation and worry but is not related to self-efficacy or…

Two experiments used the preferential looking task to assess early word comprehension in 12- to 24-month olds. Results indicated that when target stimuli were named, 12-month olds displayed an increase in target looking for typical--but not atypical--targets, whereas 18- and 24-month olds displayed increases for both. (Author/KB)

Employed a trial-by-trial analysis of spelling-strategy use to examine whether the overlapping-waves model could account for strategy choices in spelling for children tested in first and second grade. Found that the model was useful for understanding the development of spelling, despite the fact that explicit use of backup strategies had a minimal…

Five experiments compared metamemory abilities in 6- to 9-year olds with autism, mentally retarded children, and normal controls. Found that children with autism were not impaired on any of the metamemory tasks, although they were less likely than controls to make spontaneous use of memory strategies involving other people. Unexpectedly few…

Measured nonword reading, exception word reading, and performance with Ternus apparent movement displays (the perception of which is believed to depend upon the magnocellular and parvocellular pathways) in dyslexic children and children without reading difficulties. Found that Ternus task performance was related to nonword reading ability but not…

A study assessed the effects of reverberation, noise, and their combination on 80 listeners' (ages 6-30) identification of consonants and vowels in naturally produced nonsense syllables presented at different sensation levels (SL). Listeners achieved maximum consonant identification performance at 50 decibels SL. Vowel identification scores were…

Two experiments investigated factors affecting joint visual attention in 12- and 18-month-olds. Findings indicated that parental pointing at objects elicited more episodes of joint visual attention than looking alone. Although infants most reliably followed gestures to targets in front of them, even 12-month-olds followed gestures to targets…

A study investigated the effects of the placement of five economically disadvantaged minority students, who were identified in kindergarten as potentially academically gifted through nontraditional means, in a gifted school. Six-year follow-up data suggest that the student's academic careers have for the most part progressed well. Performance…

A study investigated ability-related differences in planning skills, as well as the performance impact of working with peers. Fifty preschool-aged children did not differ in planning skills on the basis of cognitive ability. High-ability preschoolers performed equally well when working alone or with a peer of same or less ability. (Contains…