Describes errors regarding the meaning of increase in life expectancy found in 7 of 17 gerontology textbooks examined. Discusses the myth that increase in life expectancy at birth indicates an increase in life span. Attempts to clarify the nature of this increase and reviews common misconceptions concerning it. (NRB)

The value-laden use of the language of problems and solutions is discussed, focusing on problem and solution, solution as problem, and values as determinants of problems and solutions. (BL)

Suggests that the central issue family policy must address is dependent/independent relationships. The concept of dependency also can be used as the unit of analysis and as a means of integrating family policy with public policy, thus allowing wider theoretical integration. (Author/BL)

Presents a general definition of a system; outlines a collection of properties identified through a review of the literature to be used as a criterion for determining whether an aggregation of objects is a system; and tests a computer-based system against the checklist to see how it measures up. (MBR)

Concludes that defining "gifted" is a delicate and complicated activity, made more so by the fact that there is no theoretically based definition that will fit all programs and circumstances. (FL)

Offers a rationale for and definition of science education, namely, the discipline concerned with the study of the interaction of science and society, the impact of science upon society, as well as the impact of society upon science. (JN)

Discusses problems of defining suicide and differentiating suicide from accidental death, examining presuicidal conditions and behavior in young children, and describing young children's concepts of death. Offers suggestions for prevention. (RH)

Defines the discipline of instructional science, discusses its applications, and reviews three instructional models--the component theory display, elaboration theory of instruction, and motivational design of instruction--to illustrate the kind of integrative, multi-perspectived common knowledge base needed at this point in the development of…

Despite much effort by scholars, the definition of play remains a problem. Observers of preschool children tend to rate constructive activities as play; this has implications for play criteria. Types of play recorded may be appreciably affected by the time frame of observations and the use or lack of supplementary interviews. (RH)

Examines the history of literacy, identifying four current models of literacy. Argues that literacy does not merely coexist or interact with oral skills but includes them--that the definition of literacy consists in written and oral practices organized around texts in a particular culture. (PD)

The term "curriculum" is used with different meanings. The author proposes a definition and stresses the need for educational leaders to clarify the term. (MD)

A classification system of mental retardation is proposed based on etiology and IQs at least two standard deviations below the population mean. Social competence and performance capabilities of individuals with subaverage IQs are removed from definitional status and given prominence as correlates of class membership. (Author/CL)

Describes how developmental psychopathology differs from related disciplines, including abnormal psychology, psychiatry, clinical child psychology, and developmental psychology. Points out propositions underlying a developmental perspective and discusses implications for research in developmental psychopathology. (Author/RH)

In Study 1, 85 percent of 248 third-, fifth-, and twelfth- grade students identified as normal could have been classified learning disabled (LD). In Study 2, 88 percent of a low achieving fourth grade sample could have been identified as LD, with 4 percent not meeting any criteria for classification. (Author/CL)

Discusses three distinct hypotheses in the statement--"The role of the librarian, unlike that of the information scientist, is to identify the 'containers' of information rather than to filter the information itself." Definitions of the terms and examination of roles of the librarian and information scientist are included. (EJS)