This response to Stanovich's (EC 607 092) proposal of a new type of learning disability, dysrationalia, looks at implications for the entire learning disabilities field, especially increasing differences between operational and substantive definitions and the ongoing creation of new types of learning disabilities to overcome perceived definitional…

Emotional characteristics of gifted children are examined. Frameworks developed by G. Betts and M. Neihart and by A. Roeper, which classify children by features of their characteristic emotional response, are described. Gifted children's unusual levels of sensitivity and intensity are noted and illustrated with a case example. (JDD)

Capitalizes on students' interest in driving by using road signs, which are classified by shape as well as by color, to teach about geometric shapes. (HTH)

This article describes the strengths and weaknesses of different models of classification (primarily monothetic and polythetic) and then focuses on cluster analysis as a method of pursuing a polythetic model. Design features that need to be incorporated in a cluster analytic study are discussed in relation to theory formulation, internal validity,…

A sample of 125 adults completed the Dogmatism scale, the NEO Personality Inventory, the Self-Directed Search, and the Preconscious Activity scale. High scores on Openness and Originality correlated with Holland's Artistic and Investigative types, supporting the ordering of types according to potential for creative performance. (SK)

Reviews research on native language (NL) listening, and discusses the importance of listening in second-language (L2) acquisition, factors that influence success or failure of comprehension of first-language or L2 messages, the role of listening in the L2 curriculum, posited models of NL and L2 listening comprehension, and proposed taxonomies of…

Discussion of the use of computers in Slavonic studies in the Ukraine focuses on linguistics. Topics addressed include the Machine Fund of Russian, a Russian language database; the Machine Fund of Non-Russian Languages that includes each republic of the former Soviet Union; natural language processing; and comparing languages. (18 references) (LRW)

The following four integrative data analysis strategies for mixed-method evaluation designs are derived from and illustrated by empirical practice: (1) data transformation; (2) typology development; (3) extreme case analysis; and (4) data consolidation and merging. Use of these methods to realize the full potential of mixed-method approaches is…

An algorithm based on the majorization theory of J. de Leeuw and W. J. Heiser is presented for fitting the slide-vector model. It views the model as a constrained version of the unfolding model. A three-way variant is proposed, and two examples from market structure analysis are presented. (SLD)

This article on medical diagnosis of the sexually abused child summarizes clinical research on physical findings in nonabused children, abused children, and abused children with independent confirmation of abuse. A classification of physical findings is proposed along a continuum of certainty that sexual abuse has occurred. (Author/JDD)

Three principles of classification are stressed in the development of electronic dental patient records and clinical databases: (1) the classification must have a suitable organizing principle; (2) use must be made of standard terminology; and (3) there must be standard operational criteria. (DB)

Compared an outcomes-based typology of institutions derived from a cluster analysis with the Carnegie Classification of Institutions. The sample consisted of 38 colleges and universities included in Cooperative Institutional Research Program surveys that had minimum of 25 students who completed both 1971 and 1980 surveys. Found little or no…

Of 169 adult and adolescent stutterers studied, 112 reported family history of stuttering. Only 3 of the 112 reported birth or early childhood factors that might precipitate stuttering, as opposed to 21 of those without family history of stuttering. By considering these two conditions as separate factors in behavior, stutterers may be divided into…

Addresses Nelson's commentary on Ward, Vela, and Hass' study of children's category learning (both of which are in this issue). Discusses the issue of whether a holistic processing view provides a better account of children's learning than does an analytical view. (PCB)

This paper describes current neurological knowledge regarding the recognition, diagnosis, and classification of frontal lobe seizures, and then critiques a study by A. Gedye which suggested that self-injury may be involuntary and related to frontal lobe seizure activity. (JDD)