Four studies examined reading disabilities in elementary school children from the perspective of componential skills of reading. A principal-components analysis of the performance of 139 children on reading-related tasks yielded two factors: decoding and comprehension. Factor analyses indicated that orthographic skills and processing speed could…

Probable ages of normalization were calculated for 24 children with speech delay, using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Formulas are provided that permit calculation of the likelihood that individual children will normalize by a given age. Analysis revealed two different paths to normalization with children following one of the paths likely to retain…

Reports on a 1995-1996 national survey of master's in social-work (MSW) programs, focusing on nonacademic admissions criteria and procedures used to assess candidates. The report assesses the commonalities found in the responses and sample materials used, describes challenges in using nonacademic criteria, and presents a model for defining and…

Identifies issues relevant to nontransfer college seniors who disenroll before graduating. Analysis suggests that nonretention of seniors was best predicted by dissatisfaction with academic guidance, access to school-related information, and quality of education, as well as by feelings of institutional alienation. Discusses implications for future…

A study investigated self-efficacy beliefs, sources of efficacy information, person input variables, and outcome expectations in relationship to the career interests of 96 adolescents with learning disabilities. Self-efficacy beliefs were found to be a substantial predictor of career interests and to consistently mediate the relationship of other…

A study involving 42 mothers of Greek children with deafness found mothers of younger children, of boys, and those reporting greater stress, had longer and more frequent involvement with their children. Mothers with greater stress were more likely to rate the affective tone of their involvement as more chorelike. (Author/CR)

Examines the relationship of a set of career variables, family cohesion, and demographic variables with the acculturation level of a sample of 176 Mexican-American community college students. Results reveal that only the demographic variables related significantly to acculturation. Socioeconomic status appeared to account for most of the variance…

A survey of 460 parents of children with mental retardation found that perceptions of inclusion were significantly influenced by characteristics of the parent and the child as well as by factors associated with the child's placement history. Factors influencing these perceptions differed according to varying dimensions of inclusion being…

Used data from the British Household Panel Survey to examine the relationship between income and deprivation. Found that, although income was a major determinant of deprivation, the two did not overlap entirely. Household structure accounted partly for the relatively weak relationship between income and deprivation. Children growing up with…

To identify college students at risk for dropping out, scores on the Environmental Deprivation Scale (EDS) given six quarters earlier were studied. Students who had graduated at follow-up had lower scores than those who had dropped out. Examination of items showed types of support lacking for at-risk students. (EMK)

The role of functional behavioral assessment is contrasted with a longitudinal risk-factors exposure model for understanding and predicting maladaptive behavioral outcomes in applied settings. The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are discussed and the need for integration of the two approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding is…

This longitudinal study of social services and juvenile court files identified factors associated with court outcomes for drug exposed infants (N=118). Regression analysis suggested that mothers' compliance with court orders was the major predictor of court outcomes although chi square analysis found ethnicity, past referrals, and criminal record…

A study of 35 3-year-olds followed since infancy in a university-affiliated pediatrics clinic and 50 Native American children followed since infancy in a tribal health clinic found early recurrent otitis media with effusion was only associated with increased risk for speech disorder in the Native American children. (Contains extensive references.)…

A study of 222 nursing students in England found no significant differences in performance in the sciences among those with different educational qualifications. Age was a better predictor of science performance. (SK)

Comparison of the records of incarcerated juvenile males (N=505) receiving remediation in either reading or mathematics with those receiving no remediation found members of the remedial groups were twice as likely to be recidivists or parole violators as members of the nonremedial group. Predictors of remedial group membership included verbal IQ,…