Card and Giuliano's National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper on universal screening is discussed. This commentary provides a brief summary and critique of the article, proposes an explanation of the results in light of the author's research on the role of nominations or screening tests in the gifted identification process, and…

A research paper by Card and Giuliano took advantage of a natural experiment in a large school district to explore the impact that universal screening policies had on the identification of historically underrepresented minorities in gifted and talented programs. The authors concluded that the universal screening system was more effective than the…

Two-phase designs in epidemiological studies of autism prevalence introduce methodological complications that can severely limit the precision of resulting estimates. If the assumptions used to derive the prevalence estimate are invalid or if the uncertainty surrounding these assumptions is not properly accounted for in the statistical inference…

Aserts that it is unclear how the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional ratings link to other critical child and family risk factors. Identifies questions regarding how well individual dimensions of social behavior are measured and concerns about the partial overlap between competent and problem behavior. Expresses concerns about the…

The article comments critically on a previous article entitled "A Quota System for Gifted Minority Children: A Viable Solution." Some methodological considerations of that study are briefly discussed, focusing on identification and screening procedures. (DLS)

Asserts that having parents participate in first-level screenings of their young children is an ideal way to strengthen the parent-program/school relationship. Notes concerns with identifying which parents can accurately rate their child's social-emotional behavior. Maintains that having good tools to use as a follow-up to screening is as…

This final segment of a series of studies to ascertain the degree to which visually impaired persons use the Library of Congress National Library Service for the blind and physically handicapped (NLS) examines the methodologies involved in conducting the studies, as well as the problems associated with those methodologies. Chapters explore the…

Critiques two 1992 "Economics of Education" articles using the "P" test to probe the screening hypothesis by comparing educational rates of return in private and public sectors. This method ignores two important phenomena--ability bias and selectivity bias. The outcome of the "P" test might change if a richer data set…

This article comments on results of a study (EC 629 869) on the reliability of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), a early detection screening test. It discusses concerns relating to clinic vs. population samples, data analysis, use of a parent questionnaire only to identify autism, and the age of screening. (Contains…

This article responds to comments (EC 629 869-70) on a study on the reliability of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), a early detection screening test. It addresses concerns relating to clinic vs. population samples, data analysis, use of a parent questionnaire only to identify autism, and the age of screening. (Contains 6…

A total population study of 4,797 six-year-old children attending the public preschools in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden was conducted in order to investigate the problematic area of perceptual, motor and attentional deficits in preschool children. A questionnaire with 34 questions about minimal brain dysfunction-related problems was distributed…

Surveyed directors (N=109) of clinical psychology programs to assess their opinions regarding proposed personality evaluation of doctoral applicants. Results showed that 75.3 percent opposed the evaluation based on the applicant's right to privacy and the inadequacies of assessment alternatives. (Author/JAC)

Procedures that have been used for assessing a discrepancy between ability and achievement of students suspected to have a learning disability are examined. Methodological deficiencies and/or unavailability of conclusive validity evidence are cited to support the conclusion that all of the procedures are worthless for screening purposes. (SEW)

Three models of educational evaluation are discussed: the intuitive decisions model, the experimental model, and the feedback model. The feedback model is most useful because it will provide baseline information about current accomplishments of the school systems. Once the feedback process is well underway, it is then profitable to discuss goals.…