Explored the contribution of two working memory systems, the articulatory loop and the central executive, and short-term memory to the word recognition and comprehension deficits of children with learning disabilities. Results of 2 experiments with 150 children support the idea that poor word recognition and comprehension reflect deficits in a…

Examines the manner in which introductory psychology textbooks present issues about child sexual assault. Finds that four texts made no mention of any child sexual assault issues and of the remaining textbooks, the majority of the information concerning child sexual assault dealt with memory issues. Identifies five overgeneralizations in relation…

This study evaluated descriptions, either from memory or by using a map (print or tactile), of 12 visually impaired and 12 sighted elementary grade children of two routes around their schools. Descriptions from maps were generally poorer than those from memory. Qualitative differences were also found between descriptions of visually impaired and…

Sixteen school-age children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 16 age-matched controls were tested for immediate recall of digits presented visually, auditorily, or audiovisually. Recall tasks compared speaking and pointing response modalities. SLI children showed small recency effects as well as an unusually poor recall when visually…

Describes a project used in an introductory psychology course that examines flashbulb memories. At two different points in the semester students recorded what they were doing when they first heard of a particular event. Discusses the project assessment and considers the benefits of the project. (CMK)

Native and experienced nonnatives listened to a text while performing a concurrent task. Half of each group was given the topic of the passage. Scores on the concurrent task were compared with baseline to index working memory (WM) consumption. Results showed greater WM consumption for nonnatives than natives when the topic was unavailable,…

Three experiments explored change toward more flexible reliance on combinations of spatial and nonspatial landmark information to reorient oneself. Identified 5-7 years as age for this developmental change. Results suggest that language production skills play a causal role in allowing humans to construct novel representations rapidly, which can…

A literature review led to the following categories of factors affecting learning in older adults: major changes in physical capacities, changes in sensory capacities, changes in speed and timing, attitude changes, learning capacity and performance, memory change, and changes in adjustment ability and morale. (SK)

Strategy use, recall, metamemory, and attributional beliefs were assessed in 31 students (age 10) with and 33 students without mild mental retardation over a 3-year period. Although both groups employed effective strategies and increased their strategy use over time, students without mental retardation were more strategic. Attribution beliefs and…

Attention span, verbal list learning, and memory test performance were examined in relation to Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) measures of depression, anxiety, and psychotic thinking in 128 male head-injury and psychiatric patients. Results support the view that MMPI-2 scores are relevant to neuropsychological test…

A study of 300 children in kindergarten, grade 2, and grade 6 found that background music improved visual discrimination task performance at the youngest and middle ages and had no effect on the oldest participants. On a square identification task, background music had no influence on easy and difficult tasks but lowered performance on…

Examined association between parents' recollections of childhood parental acceptance and their children's socioemotional functioning. Assessed children's peer functioning through observers' ratings, mothers' reports, and children's self-perceptions. Children of mothers who recalled greater parental acceptance perceived themselves as more accepted…

Focuses on the familiar problem of students' understanding of elementary electrical circuits from a much neglected point of view. Suggests that the patterning commonly found in students' ideas might have its roots in the cognitive processing with which students operate their mental models of d.c. electrical circuits. Studies Japanese 10-11 year…

Discussion of society's interest in history and memory focuses on library preservation policies and practices. Topics include technology and electronic information taking precedence over printed material; changes in museums; fears about cultural change and loss; negative impacts of new technologies; public opinion about the role of libraries; and…

This study examined effects of individual differences in speak-span scores and variations in memory demands on class-inclusion performance of 10-, 13-, and 15-year-olds. Results from regression analyses and the mathematical model indicated that differences in age, speak span, and memory load affected performance. Effects of speak span and memory…