Two sources of inconsistency were separated by reanalyzing data from a major study on short-term consistency. Little evidence was found for generalizability or behavioral predictability. Results supported the assumption that measurement error from short-term fluctuations is not due to systematic individual differences in response consistency.…

Focuses on the challenges associated with the introduction of language education in a secondary classroom containing learners of diverse backgrounds. Presents the results of action research of two groups of girls studying French. Findings indicate that a large group of learners can develop language skills through pair work and group activities and…

To determine effects of institutional control on component use and need for meeting individual differences in course design, a survey of students at British Open University analyzed the use and helpfulness of 15 multimedia components. Concludes that controls may force students to use less helpful components and that a wide range of components…

A stochastic multidimensional unfolding (MDU) procedure is presented to represent individual differences in phased or sequential decision processes spatially. A Monte Carlo analysis demonstrates estimation proficiency and the appropriateness of the proposed model selection heuristic, and an application to capture awareness, consideration, and…

This interview study gathered information about the prior knowledge and thinking of kindergarten to third- graders regarding the supply of water, heat, and light to modern homes. Findings indicated that students possessed only limited and spotty knowledge about utilities in modern homes. Within general trends, there was evidence of growth in…

Reflects on previous articles in the same journal on preparation of special education teachers. Discusses the need for special educators to focus their efforts more on teaching the teachers, rather than on system change. Also addresses the challenge of detailing the differences and similarities in students, tasks, and instruction that are relevant…

Effectiveness of a classwide peer tutoring program was studied for low achievers with and without learning disabilities and average achievers in 20 elementary school intervention classes and 20 control classes. All types of learners in peer tutoring classrooms demonstrated greater reading progress regardless of which of three measures was used.…

Identified five groups (well-adjusted, undercontrolled, reserved, confident, inhibited) of 3-year-olds and assessed subjects' interpersonal functioning at age 21. Found that well-adjusted, reserved, and confident children exhibited normative adult interpersonal behavior; inhibited children had lower levels of social support as adults than other…

This essay presents arguments in favor of continuing individualized intelligence testing in schools. Issues discussed include questions of validity in the concept of intelligence and its testing, ethical issues, legal issues, racial/minority and cultural issues, poor correlation between test results and teaching, and alternatives proposed by…

Reviews research on the heritability of intellectual factors, personality factors, and psychopathology. Discusses the importance of investigating within-family environmental differences in order to understand the environmental origins of individual differences in development. (Author/BJV)

Explains how middle level educators can provide learning environments supportive of gifted students by understanding in depth the differences and similarities between general education at that level and gifted education. (ET)

Second-language narrative development was investigated by focusing on the evaluative use of modal verbs. The data consist of 45 retellings of 6 model stories by 8 Panjabi-speaking youth. Evidence is given for the development of evaluative syntax with age and/or increasing language experience of proficiency and also for inherent individual…

Research suggests that computer anxiety and computer experience are related. Some relationship between age and gender and computer anxiety has been suggested but not sufficiently examined. Other relationships have been explored with little result, and little is known about mediating computer anxiety. A model of the development of computer anxiety…

Reviews factors influencing reversals of expectations for language-learning outcomes. This article touches on psychological and neurological data regarding individual differences in language-learning mechanisms and focuses on cross-linguistic psycholinguistic analysis that indicates that different target languages offer a wide variety of learning…

Noting that today's economic, social, and scientific problems require creative solutions, points out the need for creative talent. Discusses how current thinking and educational practices in this country do little to encourage the development of creative individuals. Suggests that concentrating on developing the potential of each individual would…