Concludes that a large number of student teachers and experienced teachers at the elementary level cannot define the concepts and terms they are teaching. (RB)

A study (replicating a similar 1977 study by S. Stotsky), examined whether current basal series teach prefixion clearly. Teacher's guides, student texts, and workbooks of nine popular basal reader series were examined to ascertain whether they offered a clear definition of the term "prefix" and whether that definition was reinforced by…

Because schemas are often defined imprecisely and intuitively, the term "schema" is often misapplied in research. Consequently, researchers may fail to understand the complete scope of the phenomenon they are studying. Discussions of children's gender schema development and the influence of the gender schema on children's social…

Is the concept of "quality of life" potentially an important one for public policy analysis, or must it remain forever vague and controversial, resisting clear definition and scientific measurement? Everyday usage of the phrase is examined as well as its relation to other terms like "happiness" and "welfare." It is concluded that one reason for…

A proper understanding of the role of culture in development can make a significant contribution to the development of theory and offer a more certain guide to practice than current theories afford. Three frameworks for interpreting the influence of nature and nurture on individual development assign biological and environmental factors a direct…

In competitive debate, a view of meaning as something that a team has a right to pre-select is inconsistent with Ludwig Wittgenstein's conception of meaning as use. The "language-linked value objection" rejects conventional value objection of identifying the negative consequences of taking a stance in the hypothetical world of the…

This study reviews research examining the incidence of incest and child sexual abuse, focusing on the apparent discrepancy between incidence rates based on child service agency incident reports and the surveys of victims reports. Research is reviewed from the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s. Research problems and limitations are described. The problem…

A collection of the 550 best-known English-language proverbs provides an explanation of their meanings in French and gives French-language equivalents. A list of proverbs categorized by key words is appended. (MSE)

In an effort to demonstrate why good qualitative ethnography must be an equal partner in the process of building scientific knowledge, this study examined how the personal meanings assigned to the public concept of retirement affected the social actions of the elderly when they retired. The public and personal interpretations/meanings workers…

The study reports on a comparative analysis of behavior disorder definitions and eligibility criteria for special education cooperatives (N=90) in the state of Illinois. Data regarding entrance and exit criteria and referral, evaluation and program placement procedures are evaluated. Among results were that 35% of respondents reported that no…

Written in simple language and designed in a large-print format, this short guide is aimed at teaching home economics teachers to use computers in their classrooms. The guide is organized in six sections. The first section covers the basics of computer equipment and explains how computers work while the second section outlines how to use…

Several approaches to the study of play are examined and critiqued, including Matthews and Matthews' (1982) paradigm case approach and Sutton-Smith and Kelly-Byrne's (1984) view of play as a commonly-recognized-as-framed event in which the metacommunicative function always retains primacy. Consideration of the genesis of play in the child leads to…

The information digest on emotional disturbances provides basic information on definition, incidence, patterns of behavior, and educational implications as well as suggested additional resources. The definition of "emotional disturbances" in P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, is given and briefly discussed.…

This paper results from the collaborative work of Research for Better Schools, Inc., with the state staffs of Pennsylvania and Maryland on the problem of students at risk. It highlights the ways in which the problem is being defined, the data sets that are being used to suggest the magnitude of the problem, and the studies that are being used to…

This document describes Minnesota statutes and cases that provide rights, responsibilities, and protections for young people different from those applicable to adults. It gives legislators an overview of all laws affecting young people, serving as a reference aid for current state policies toward youth. It is basically a state guide, including…