Analyzes in detail some of the incorrect responses made by subjects (culturally disadvantaged Israeli children) performing on cloze tests and suggests what may be inferred about the cognitive processing employed by the subjects that leads them to make such responses. Results indicate the need for further detailed linguistic analysis of responses…

Fifteen studies comparing various educational outcomes of problem-based, community-oriented medical curricula with those of conventional programs are reviewed. The problems inherent in comparative research at the curriculum level are discussed. (MSE)

Reports measures of the gains in search time and likelihood of success in known-item searches with the Acorn automated catalog at Vanderbilt University. User time and search success are valued in dollar terms to make the measures meaningful for system design choices. (Author/CLB)

Describes need to improve education in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District which has the lowest percentage of high school graduates in the nation. Reports peoples' perceptions of educational problems; details community financial support; provides comparative statistics on educational attainment, math and reading mastery, dropouts,…

This study of 58 first graders used audiocassette recordings of a familiar story to examine the effects of three integrated and contiguous instructional designs using incongruity humor on recognition and recall of information as measured by immediate learning and retention tests. Research methodology is discussed, and 68 references are listed.…

Changes were analyzed using both Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores and grade point average. Modest gains were shown: in the men and women applicants' scores on the MCAT biology, chemistry, physics, and science problems subtests; in all age categories except over 32; and for all ethnic or racial groups except blacks. (Author/LB)

Describes the results of a survey that examined what kinds of database vendors are improving their retrieval software and the decision processes involved. Respondents included large and small vendors from the public and private sectors. An appendix presents vendors' reasons for and against specific innovations. (12 references) (CLB)

Describes two experiments that were designed to test the effectiveness of a microcomputer-based vocabulary program for high school students. Pretest and posttest methodologies are described for learning-disabled, remedial, and general students, and results for the experimental and control groups are compared. (18 references) (Author/LRW)

A computer-assisted bibliographic instruction program developed for remedial students to teach them critical thinking skills covered library vocabulary, formats, call numbers, tools, and question analysis. Evaluation showed that students receiving classroom presentation scored higher on a posttest than students using the computer-assisted…

Describes a study that measured undergraduate students' grasp of library concepts taught using the online catalog and the traditional card catalog, and student preferences for one system over the other. The discussion includes the comparative effectiveness of different instructional methods. (12 notes with references) (Author/CLB)

Describes study that examined the effect of the use of microcomputers as word processors in a college freshman English composition course. Treatments for the experimental and control groups are described, dependent and independent variables are explained, and results based on pretest and posttest writing samples are analyzed. (21 references) (LRW)

Learning-disabled sixth through eighth grade students (n=25) received vocabulary instruction involving matching negation prefixes to root words. The students used an instructional computer game or a computer program that operated identically but without game features. Both programs produced equal gains in task skill, but the game produced higher…

Sensory integrative therapy as a treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) was contrasted with an attention control condition involving a 15-year-old multiply handicapped boy. Lower rates of SIB during but not following treatment sessions were effected. Effects of such therapies are concluded to be highly variable across individuals. (Author/JDD)

This study examined the nature and chronological spread of references used by English-speaking scholars writing monographs on foreign literary topics, and compared the findings to an earlier study of the monographic literature of English and American literature and the humanities journal literature. Implications for research library collections…

Forty second grade and 40 fifth grade elementary school children participated in a study to examine the relationship of three factors to the development of trust in children's peer relations: participation in a best friend relationship, social status, and changes in factors children consider when making judgments of trust. (RWB)