Describes a study that used focus groups, mail surveys, and in-home observations to examine differences in traditional television viewing and video cassette recorder (VCR) movie rental viewing. Viewing preparation, activities during viewing, and visual orientation to the screen are examined; hypotheses tested are discussed; and future research is…

Stresses the need to abolish IQ testing in the schools because such tests serve no purpose and block the implementation of other strategies that can benefit students. A shift to Binet's remedial paradigm is recommended as essential to allow testing and assessment that benefits all students. (SM)

The utility of information derived from a consumer satisfaction questionnaire was demonstrated via an analysis of feedback from 22 referring health professionals (21 physicians and 1 clinical psychologist) who replied to questions about their satisfaction with neuropsychological evaluation reports. The questionnaire used was the Neuropsychology…

A case study in a developing country raises issues about the use of tests for educational selection. Issues concerning secondary school admission in developing countries have counterparts in admission criteria for higher education in developed nations. However, one case study of one system cannot provide definitive conclusions for others. (SLD)

This critical evaluation of the Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) determined that the test items are 30 years old, scores are derived from a nonrepresentative norm group, and scores are not interchangeable with other intelligence measures. The paper concludes that the SIT is unsuited for educational decision-making purposes, including screening,…

Reviews the literature on patron perceptions of library use and the necessity of instruction, describes a survey of Illinois public library patrons that asked their views on library use instruction, compares results with those of an earlier survey of academic library patrons, and suggests areas for further study. (16 references) (LRW)

This paper discusses language in use, focusing on English, including definitions of language as well as how it has been and how it should be taught inside and outside the classroom. Impact of this information on the process of evaluation of hearing-impaired students' language is also considered. (Author/PB)

In this study an artificial intelligence assessment tool used disease-by-feature frequency estimates to create disease prototypes for nine common causes of acute chest pain. The tool then used each subject's prototypes and a pattern-recognition-based decision-making mechanism to diagnose 18 myocardial infarction cases. (MLW)

Examines dropout rates, standardized test scores, commission reports, university enrollments, per pupil expenditures, special education costs, employment trends, and other indicators to show that U.S. education is not in the sorry condition its critics claim. Rereading "A Nation at Risk" (1983) discloses a xenophobic screed having little…

Describes research and development work done by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW) for "Sesame Street." Cooperation between producers and researchers is discussed; three mechanisms used to explore new topics and learn more about preschool children are explained; and a case study is presented of how a new geography curriculum was…

Describes two experiments that were conducted at the University of Illinois to determine how cognitive abilities of users of information retrieval systems and specific design features combine to create system usability. Logical reasoning and perceptual speed are examined, and reliability and validity are discussed. (Contains 12 references.) (LRW)

Journal editors respond to criticisms of reliance on statistical significance in research reporting. Joel R. Levin ("Journal of Educational Psychology") defends its use, whereas William D. Schafer ("Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development") emphasizes the distinction between statistically significant and important. William Asher…

Discusses the politics of higher education as it relates to the upward mobility of African Americans in U.S. society. It discusses higher education's role in reducing the endemic problems confronting blacks and how blacks can pursue their educational goals despite the politics in higher education. (GLR)

In this interview, an Educational Testing Service (ETS) staff person outlines the three program components, as well as program development, pilot testing, and implementation plans for "The Praxis Series: Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers." Issues related to equity and computer-assisted testing are also examined. (IAH)

With respect to the design of cooperative systems, issues related to the fundamental communication channels, sociotechnical factors, and task characteristics associated with collaborative work situations are reviewed. Research strategies incorporating theory-motivated design, ethnographic methods, and controlled testing methods are discussed as a…