This study investigates the online comprehension of Determiner Phrases (DPs) as a function of the given-new distinction in two-sentence texts in German and further focuses on DPs whose interpretation depends on inferential information (so-called "bridging relations"). Previous reaction time studies report an advantage of given over new…

Forward blocking is one of the best-documented phenomena in Pavlovian animal conditioning. According to contemporary associative learning theories, forward blocking arises directly from the hardwired basic learning rules that govern the acquisition or expression of associations. Contrary to this view, here the authors demonstrate that blocking in…

This paper, presented at a conference of college admissions counselors, attempts to provide a brief overview of descriptive and inferential statistics for college admissions officers, in the hopes that it will encourage these admissions personnel to question assumptions more critically. The paper begins by defining statistics, specifically…

Conceptual and empirical research needs in the areas of the generalizability of critical thinking (inductive inference) and the evaluation of critical thinking ability are discussed. A combined effort of philosophers, psychologists, and subject matter specialists is suggested. (TJH)

A sample of children (grades 2-3) was provided with information about the abilities of two children at a specific activity and asked to predict their abilities at a second related activity. The respondents' sex stereotypes interfered with their capacity to make logical inferences about the stimulus children's abilities at the second activity. (KH)

Various statistical methods have been available to deal with missing data problems, but the difficulty is that they are based on somewhat restrictive assumptions that missing patterns are known or can be modeled with auxiliary information. This paper treats the presence of missing cases from the viewpoint that generalization as a sample does not…

The distinction between Type 1 and Type 12 sampling in connection with measurement data is discussed, and a method is presented for simulating data arising from Type 12 sampling. A Monte Carlo study is described that shows conditions under which precise confidence level control under Type 12 sampling is maintained. (SLD)

Three studies addressed preschool-age children's ability to identify and remember the epistemic and imaginal origins of their mental representations. Results revealed that three-, four-, and five-year olds differed significantly in their ability to identify and remember the sources of their mental representations. Identifying and remembering…

Examines encoding differences between bridging and predictive inferences in four experiments. Suggests that bridging inferences are encoded into the textbase, whereas predictive inferences are not--predictive inferences are held in working memory, perhaps as part of the reader's situation model. (PA)

Examined reasoning about physics principles within and across ontological kinds among 5- and 7-year-olds and adults. Found that all age groups tended to appropriately generalize what they learned across ontological kinds. Children assumed that principles learned with reference to one ontological kind were more likely to apply within that kind than…

Examines query expansion during query translation in cross language information retrieval and develops a general framework for inferential information retrieval in two particular contexts: using fuzzy logic and probability theory. Obtains evaluation formulas that are shown to strongly correspond to those used in other information retrieval models.…

Shows how to extend the inferential test of B. Shipley (2000), which is applicable to recursive path models without correlated errors, to a class of recursive path models that includes correlated errors. Discusses when the extended model is and is not superior to classical structural equation modeling. (SLD)

Discusses the components of information inquiry that are necessary to meet basic information and media literacy skills. Highlights include questioning; exploration; assimilation; inference; reflection; information environments, including school, workplace, and personal; information needs; information problems; and literacy and fluency. (LRW)

The finite intersection test (FIT) developed by P. K. Krishnaiah (1964, 1965) is discussed and compared with more familiar methods for simultaneous inference. How the FIT can be used to analyze differences among all means for both univariate and multivariate experimental designs is explained. (SLD)

Discussion of networked information retrieval and the interoperability of heterogeneous information-retrieval systems shows how differences concerning search operators and database schemas can be handled by applying data-abstraction concepts in combination with uncertain inference. Highlights include data types, data independence, schema…