Classifies the complexity of the mental processes involved in combining kernel sentences, recasting flawed sentences, and composing original sentences based on rhetorical models. (DD)

Investigates the relative difficulty of learning Japanese word kanji and syllable kana. (AA)

The factor differentiation hypothesis suggests that the factor structure of a set of tests tends to differentiate over time, becoming more complex and articulated. This experimental study provides evidence confirming that hypothesis. (Author/JKS)

The performance of hospitalized paranoid schizophrenics, nonparanoids, and hospitalized controls was compared on motor, perceptual, and cognitive tasks of increasing complexity. The data were examined within the context of comparing differential predictions made by input and central processing theories of information-processing deficit. (Editor)

Psychometric issues arising from the use of minimum competency tests in local option states were examined in seven school districts. The effect of variability in reliability and difficulty level of subtests on the accuracy of decisions based on such tests is questioned, particularly as they affect mildly handicapped and marginal students.…

This study examined the McCall-Crabbs Standard Test Lessons in Reading to determine whether selections of passages covered a sufficiently wide range of difficulty to warrant their use in developing readability formulas. The results, which find several readability formulas suspect, are discussed. (Author/MT)

Language Through Reading Materials, developed for children with severe specific language disorders, are described in terms of three levels and possible applications with students who have speech and language disorders, hearing impairments, and moderate learning difficulties. (CL)

A supplementary treatment is proposed which helps identify sources of bias affecting groups of test items. This treatment is illustrated with the tranformed item-difficulty method as applied to an evaluation of a test used to help select applicants to be admitted to an aviation training program. (Author/BW)

A study was conducted to extend the sequential probability ratio testing (SPRT) procedure with the polytomous model under some practical constraints in computerized classification testing (CCT), such as methods to control item exposure rate, and to study the effects of other variables, including item information algorithms, test difficulties, item…

To demonstrate a relationship between rate of habituation and complexity levels, 11-week-old infants (N=51) were each given a rate-of-habituation and complexity-level test. Rapid habituators looked longer at complex patterns. Irregular habituators responded randomly to tests or resembled slow habituators in terms of complexity preferred. (ST)

Pause detection thresholds and the duration of fluent and hesitation pauses as a function of syntactic complexity were studied in 12 normal young adult male speakers. (KW)