Research on fetal alcohol syndrome is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the implications of the syndrome for the development of mental retardation and other handicapping conditions. Attention is given to historical aspects; epidemiology; physiological and behavioral characteristics; and concerns related to diagnosis, prevention, and…

Guidelines are offered to serve as a practical, adaptable model for implementation of a search, screening, and identification process for students eligible for Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) in California. The guidelines cover: catgories of identification; appropriate grade levels for identification; general procedures for search and…

This study used symbolic interaction theory to address the following question: what is the self-identity, or perceived "I am," held by adolescents with learning disabilities (LD) in the public school environment? According to symbolic interaction theory, experiencing the label and role of specific learning disability would reflect the…

The effect of dimensionality on an adaptive test's ability estimation was examined. Two-dimensional data sets, which differed from one another in the interdimensional ability association, the correlation among the difficulty parameters, and whether the item discriminations were or were not confounded with item difficulty, were generated for 1,600…

This study examined the ability of a newly developed computerized visual vigilance measure, the Preschool Vigilance Task (PVT), to differentiate between 20 hyperactive and 20 control preschoolers. The PVT was developed to minimize cognitive requirements in a vigilance measure. The study compared performance of the subjects on the PVT and the…

The booklet describes, for parents, Wisconsin's policies regarding identification, evaluation, and placement of children with possible exceptional educational needs. Information on identification touches upon child find, screening, and referral. The role of the multidisciplinary team in evaluating and developing an individualized education program…

Erikson's concept of identity has become a central focus for studying adolescent development. Identity is a psychosocial construct involving the creation of a sense of sameness and continuity, a unity of personality achieved through a process of crisis and commitment. Although culture is a factor in Erikson's theory, research on adolescent…

This manual was written to help schools address the problem of youth suicide. The introduction presents a teenager's and a parent's perspective of youth suicide, discusses the problem of youth suicide, and develops a hypothesis of why the problem exists. Section 1 describes the contributing factors involved with adolescent suicide and provides…

This document presents a self-instructional guide to train individuals in the use of the Procedures for Identifying Problem Drinkers (PIPD), a screening and assessment package designed to determine the existence and degree of a drinking problem. The guide was developed for use in pre-sentence investigations, but is easily adaptable to other…

There has been a considerable expansion in the uses and definitions of giftedness constructs since 1958, when constructs were typically defined in very narrow cognitive terms (such as intelligence test scores). Currently, gifted constructs have a wide variety of definitions which reflect closely-linked processes used for identifying and selecting…

Human development has two different stories to tell. One describes the growth of the universal characteristics that are present in all human beings because humans possess a particular set of genes. Four examples of biologically prepared, universal characteristics in the psychological growth of children are the growth of memory, of moral sense and…

Due to similarities in symptomatology, childhood depression has often been misdiagnosed as conduct disorder. Differentiating between the two disorders would help to direct the appropriate interventions for each disorder. Children (N=48) between the ages of 6 and 13 years and their parents participated in a study designed to analyze variables which…

Nine indices were compared for their ability to discriminate gifted and non-gifted students (N=5,647 in grades K-12). Correlation procedures and discriminant analysis were used to examine the following indices: (1) group IQ test scores; (2) individual full scale IQ test score; (3) individual verbal IQ test score; (4) individual performance IQ test…

Descriptons of familiar birds of the Midwest and suggestions for attracting them to urban settings are offered in this publication. Plants which serve as food and protection for birds are identified. These plants are described by: the number of bird species that use the plant; the plant's ornamental value; its time in bloom and in fruit; its…

Descriptions of plants which serve as food and/or protection for birds of the northeast United States are presented in this publication. Explanations are given for each plant as to: ornamental value; time in bloom and in fruit; height; adaptations; and the number of bird species that use it. Practical ideas and suggestions are outlined for…