Presents the theory of general language proficiency and looks at the construct validation of cloze tests and C-tests. Describes the defects of classical cloze procedures. Gives an example of the C-Test and discusses its empirical validity. Concludes that C-tests are authentic tests of the construct of general language proficiency.

This study examined the predictive factors of persistence for African American students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and at predominantly white institutions, and is based on John Bean's (1982) synthetic model, which incorporates background, organizational, environmental, attitudinal, and outcome variables. The hypotheses…

Compared the mental health of the elderly living in three different environments: conventional community housing, subsidized housing, and institutions providing medical care. Mental health variables include autonomy and independence. Results indicated institutions do not appear to have better effects for their inhabitants given similar levels of…

Studied a cluster-analytic approach to developing value profiles as a technique for identifying value similarities in managerial subgroups. Results, from a sample of Indian (N=27) and American managers (N=47), show that two dominant value profiles (designated "pragmatic" and "altruistic") were present and helped explain variances in decision…

A study at the University of Texas Health Science Center of psychological characteristics and their relationship to future performance and competence of various health professionals is discussed. The objectives of this study were to describe the faculty and doctor of pharmacy students and compare their psychological profiles with a normative…

Discussion of research methodology for evaluating the degree of standardization in multinational corporations' online communication strategies across differing cultures focuses on a research framework for cross-cultural comparison of corporate Web pages, applying traditional advertising content study techniques. Describes pre-tests that examined…

This study examined factors contributing to short-term reunification for 235 children placed in South Australian substitute care from 1998 to 1999. Findings indicated that non-Aboriginal children and those placed because of parental incapacity were significantly more likely to go home, than neglected and Aboriginal children. Detailed profile…

Describes study that compared the performance of high achieving and low achieving undergraduates on two computer assisted instruction modules, one in which learners were forced to review informational frames following errors and one where the review was optional. Dependent and collateral variables are discussed and criterion referenced tests used…

Evaluated predictors of child day care satisfaction by surveying the families of 104 children in center-based care and 45 children in family child day care homes. Results indicated that perceived social support derived from the care arrangement was the best predictor of parental satisfaction in both types of care. (MDM)

This study found that accuracy in predicting the out-of-home placement of children with severe disabilities increased little in a large cross-sectional sample (n=5,992) over a smaller semilongitudinal sample (n=141). Factors such as age, adaptive and maladaptive behavior, and ethnicity are discussed. (Author/JDD)

Two questions are examined: the relationship between prior to formal experience (high school instruction) and success on university foreign language proficiency tests, and the similarity of prior experience to pass rates for students of varying languages. (LB)

Fourteen high-intelligence and 13 low-intelligence first-year college students worked in a structured or unstructured simulation environment to learn correlational principles. Thinking-aloud protocols indicate that high-intelligence subjects exhibit a better working method than do low-intelligence subjects, and that working method is a strong…

A study investigated the validity of eight indicators (acceptance rate, mean entrance test score, matriculants' class standing, faculty/student ratio, faculty background, instructional budget, retention, graduation rate) for assessing quality in higher education institutions. Indicators were more predictive of retention, graduation, and reputation…

Compared stress levels in families of children with Down syndrome (DS), Williams syndrome (WS), or Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS). Found that DS families experienced less Pessimism than others and less Parent and Family Problems than SMS families. Strongest predictors of Parent and Family Problems were maladaptive behavior in SMS, younger age in DS,…

Examined the relations between family characteristics, childhood temperament, and convictions for violent and nonviolent offenses at age 18. Found that family factors were associated with both violent and nonviolent offenses, whereas childhood temperament was associated primarily with convictions for violent offenses. Results suggest potentially…