Estimation of the parameters of the Rasch model is considered when both the item parameters and the ability parameters are considered random quantities. (RB)

The study examined the ability to estimate the number of dots in Braille symbols by 21 legally blind and 21 sighted adults. Results indicated that this task was difficult for both blind and sighted subjects with little improvement over trials. Errors of underestimation exceeded errors of overestimation. (DB)

Across three experiments involving four-, five-, and six-year-olds, the same pattern of ability to sequence events was found: familiar events in forward order were the easiest to sequence, then unfamiliar events in forward order, familiar events in backward order, and finally unfamiliar events in backward order. (Author/RH)

The determination of difficulty level of the dictation material is the crucial point in the development of speed. A three-phase process for building shorthand dictation speed is illustrated and discussed. (Author/CH)

Describes relatively simple, inexpensive employee training or guidance aids for use with straightforward, repetitive tasks and for activities calling for greater judgment, complex discrimination, and managerial or professional decision making. (LY)

The Dale-Chall Readability Formula and the Fry Readability Graph were used to analyze passages of Plato's "Parmenides," a notoriously difficult literary piece. The readability levels of the text ranged from fourth to eighth grade (Dale-Chall) and from sixth to tenth grade (Fry), indicating the limitations of the readability tests. (DF)

Properties of dichotomous Guttman-scalable items are described. Both the elements and eigenvalues of the Pearson correlation matrix of such items can be expressed as simple functions of the number of items if the score distribution is uniform and there is an equal number of items at each difficulty level. (SLD)

Community involvement in music making is a time-honored tradition that is experiencing a joyful resurgence. The word "community" can mean both an area of geography as well as a group of people coming together with a sense of purpose. In creating a community chorus, a key to its success is to place more emphasis on the second aspect. Go beyond…

When a visual search task is very difficult (as when a small feature difference defines the target), even detection of a unique element may be substantially slowed by increases in display set size. This has been attributed to the influence of attentional capacity limits. We examined the influence of attentional capacity limits on three kinds of…

The present study examined two key aspects of young children's ability to explain human behaviour in a mentalistic way. First, we explored desires that are of a level of difficulty comparable with that of false beliefs. For this purpose, the so-called "alternative desires" were created. Second, we examined how children's psychological…

Boys identified as learning-disabled gifted or twice exceptional, at two different grade levels (5th or 6th grades, and 11th or 12th grades), were asked to read a history text with unknown vocabulary words, internal inconsistencies, and prior knowledge violations inserted to make immediate comprehension difficult. The students were asked to read…

We have designed, developed, and validated a 25-question Genetics Concept Assessment (GCA) to test achievement of nine broad learning goals in majors and nonmajors undergraduate genetics courses. Written in everyday language with minimal jargon, the GCA is intended for use as a pre- and posttest to measure student learning gains. The assessment…

This paper summarizes difficulties that chemistry students at all levels commonly exhibit when translating, manipulating, and interpreting mathematical expressions that contain logarithms, and offers approaches that the authors have found useful to help students overcome such difficulties. The online supplement provides problem sets created by the…