IN TWO SEPARATE ARTICLES, TWO VIEWS OF ABILITY GROUPING ARE DISCUSSED. THE FIRST MAINTAINS THAT FOR ECONOMIC REASONS TAX-SUPPORTED EDUCATION MUST GROUP STUDENTS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH MAY BE DONE ACCORDING TO ABILITY OR TO AGE. ABILITY GROUPING IS DEFENSIBLE AS AN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE WHEN IT IS BASED ON MEASURABLE ACHIEVEMENT. ALL…

Little is known about the teaching effectiveness of instructional media, particularly film and television. Accumulated research evidence applies to a generalized "average student," and thus to no one. There has been little concern for individual differences in interaction with instructional-media variables. The problem lies with the design of…

Effects of response mode, response format, perceived response style, sex, and anonymity on raw scale scores and extreme response tendencies for two distinct measures of affective behavior were investigated. The two measures were a self-acceptance scale developed by J.R. Phillips and the Machiavellianism IV scale. Where (response mode) and how…

According to Cronbach's method of data analysis--which decomposes individual scores into separate components for different levels of aggregation--data collected for an investigation of the development of individual differences in ability test scores from grade 4 through grade 9 were grouped into school district, class, and individual components.…

Individual therapy is not always the best approach with some clients. Alternate types of therapy, a different therapist, or even referral to an appropriate community agency might be more effective. Some therapists may not always be aware of the possible agencies, groups, or professionals that clients might be referred to. Therefore, this paper…

This collection provides a number of perspectives on the central role that language plays in reading comprehension. Following an introduction by the editor, entitled "Attention and Individual Differences in Comprehension," the following papers are presented: (1) "The Line of Sight Approach," by Norman H. Mackworth; (2)…

This paper presents a discussion, based on current research, of what can be done to help children achieve the highest level of cognitive development (Piaget's formal operations). The four factors which Piaget found to be involved in cognitive development are discussed in relation to recent research. These factors include: (1) organic growth and…

A conventional vocabulary test and two forms of a stradaptive vocabulary test were administered by a time-shared computer system to undergraduate college students. The two stradaptive tests differed in that one counted question mark responses (i.e., omitted items) as incorrect and the other ignored items responded to with question marks.…

This study empirically investigated the validity and utility of the stratified adaptive computerized testing model (stradaptive]developed by Weiss (1973). The model presents a tailored testing strategy based on Binet IQ measurement theory and Lord's (1972) modern test theory. Nationally normed School and College Ability Test Verbal analogy items…

This illustrated booklet on prenatal care and birth is part of a related curriculum on parenting and child development designed for school-age mothers. Conception, embryonic and fetal development, the birth process, nutrition during pregnancy, and emotional and physical characteristics of pregnant women are explained. Short quizzes and answers are…

A series of Piagetian concrete operations period tasks dealing with classificatory concepts was administered to 280 children (40 subjects from each of seven levels--preschool, kindergarten, and first, second, third, fourth, and sixth grades). Significant main effects for age were found for all the tasks. Few significant sex differences were…

This study examined (1) the incentive for achievement motivation of female and male Mexican American and Anglo American children and (2) the relationship between language behavior, as a possible indicator of acculturation, and modes of achievement motivation. A questionnaire type scale was developed to provide a viable assessment measure that is…

This study investigates the preference and ability components of cognitive style as measured by a verbal test for fifth-grade children. Performances from an intellectual ability test, a pictorial cognitive style test, and school achievement tests were included as construct validity variables. The results supported conclusions drawn by Robinson and…

This study investigated the relationship between visual attending and learning in a group of 16 Head Start children from low income families. Attending behavior (defined as "eyes oriented towards the teacher and/or teaching materials for a full 5-second interval") was measured for each child during a 10-minute story period on four…

A number of strategies are described for adapting ability test items to individual differences in ability levels of testees. Each strategy consists of a different set of rules for selecting the sequence of test items to be administered to a given testee. Advantages and disadvantages of each strategy are discussed, and research issues unique to the…