Briefly describes the objectives and design of the MicroRead Index, a microcomputer-based index which utilizes word and sentence length to measure readability of written materials. The program computes a reading level and a consistency index for comparative analysis and determines whether the sample size used was adequate. (MBR)

Describes a kinship graph system implemented in the APL computer language, including the way in which information about individuals is entered into the database and the various ways in which the computer can trace and display family relationships. (MBR)

A project in Fairfax County, Virginia, is training five infants with physical and other handicaps to use the computer to communicate with others and to interact with the environment. Computer training begins with establishment of cause-effect relationship and proceeds through choice selection and finally categorization. (CL)

Reviews four computer programs that check grammar, punctuation, and spelling; discusses their applicability in the business writing process. (AEA)

Learning disabled students were taught to use the LOGO computer graphics language in an integrated fourth- and fifth-grade setting. Instructional strategies (such as providing many reviews) along with the intrinsically motivating nature of LOGO were thought to be responsible for the success. (CL)

This paper discusses the use of ontologies and their applications to assessment. An ontology provides a shared and common understanding of a domain that can be communicated among people and computational systems. The ontology captures one or more experts' conceptual representation of a domain expressed in terms of concepts and the relationships…

This paper outlines two types of discriminant analysis, predictive discriminant analysis (PDA) and descriptive discriminant analysis (DDA). Important differences between PDA and DDA are introduced and discussed using a heuristic data set, specifically indicating the portions of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) output relevant…

A procedure for using MEL2 (Version 2.0 of Microcomputer Experimental Laboratory) and FontWINDOW to present special characters and symbols in computer-controlled reaction time experiments is described. The procedure permits more convenience and flexibility than in tachistocopic and projection techniques. FontWINDOW allows researchers to design…

This paper presents perspectives on the use of data analysis software in the process of qualitative research. These perspectives were gained in the conduct of three qualitative research studies that differed in theoretical frames, areas of interests, and scope. Their common use of a particular data analysis software package allows the exploration…

A review of the literature reveals that important statistical algorithms and indices pertaining to logistic regression are being underused. This paper describes logistic regression in comparison with discriminant analysis and linear regression, and suggests that some techniques only accessible through computer syntax should be consulted in…

Expert systems are computer programs that are designed to advise or assist users by storing the knowledge of human experts and applying the computer's mathematical ability to search and sort this information. This study investigated the use of an expert system as a mindtool and whether or not creating a simple expert system would facilitate the…

A program that can reduce difficult integration problems to simpler approximations using the trapezoidal rule to approximate the area under a curve is presented. (MP)

A statistical analysis software package available on cassette tape is described. (MK)

Describes two complementary studies that were conducted to understand the diverse views adolescents hold regarding electronic information. One study examined high school students' concepts of property pertaining to copying computer programs; the other examined concepts of privacy pertaining to accessing computer files. (56 references) (Author/LRW)

Three major ways parents can restrict the material their children experience online include using commercial online services with parental control features, installing other parental control software, and using the Platform for Internet Content Selection. Parents must protect their children's privacy, be aware of commercialism online, and take…