A study and analysis of Florida Board Examination results, undertaken to determine the practice competency of the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy graduates as measured by the examination, is reviewed. Improved methodologies and further evaluation of the outcomes of experiential programs are seen as necessary. (Author/MLW)

Explores the hypothesis that the background knowledge effect, that is, familiarity with the topic, that enhances reading comprehension in a foreign language occurs only between two thresholds. Findings indicate that a lower threshold may exist, whereas the existence of an upper threshold is an open question. (50 references) (Author/CK)

Argues that the claims made in defense of IQ tests as measures of innate intelligence are unreasonable and false. Attempts to establish what the views of the vanguard of IQ testers are, their origin, how IQ tests have been applied and what they consist of. Aims to show the incorrectness of those views, uses, and interpretations. (200 references)…

The consequences in terms of misclassifications of students that would occur by replacing the constructed-response portion of the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations in economics with more multiple-choice items were studied. The 1991 AP examinations in micro- and macroeconomics were used. Computer simulation found that a small but statistically…

Rebuts David Noble's critique of "technology fever" in the same "Educational Leadership" issue. Evidence shows that technology improves students' mastery of basic skills, test scores, writing, engagement in school, attendance, and deportment. Technology adds value to the curriculum when integrated into a comprehensive plan for…

Explores direct techniques, such as semantic mapping and formal word analysis, as ways of supplementing the incidental learning of French vocabulary through reading by high school students in immersion and extended French classes. Findings indicate that these techniques can play a positive role in the second language classroom. (38 references)…

Investigates the color term knowledge of two-year olds and the influence of schooling on their color term acquisition. Findings reveal considerable knowledge in these children. Conclusions are that contemporary children's early and frequent experience with color terms may account for this cohort's improved performance over previous generations of…

Investigates the interaction between the presence or absence of explicit instruction and the variables complexity and morphology/syntax in the acquisition of four second language (L2) structures. Results from computer-controlled posttests confirm the hypothesis that explicit instruction facilitates the acquisition of L2 grammar. (66 references)…

Discusses research on phonological instruction that indicates that improvement in pronunciation for adult foreign language learners is possible via a multimodal methodology designed to accommodate individual learning styles. An extension of this research examines experimental subjects' improvement in pronunciation accuracy and pinpoints areas…

In this study, planning time was manipulated as a variable in a trial administration of a semi-direct oral interaction test. Discourse analytic techniques were used to determine the nature and/or significance of difference in the elicited discourse across two conditions in terms of complexity and accuracy. Findings suggest that planning time may…

The construct validity of 290 preadolescent children's responses to 3 instruments claiming to measure dimensions of self-concept was studied. Instruments administered to the fifth graders include the Self-Description Questionnaire; the Perceived Competence Scale; and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scales. (SLD)

Explores the sources of beliefs about science-technology-society topics and investigates the degree of ambiguity harbored by four different response modes, such as Likert-type, written paragraph, semistructured interview, and empirically developed multiple choice. Finds that mass media have a greater impact than science classes. (Author/YP)

Compares intelligence and achievement test results from learning disabled (LD) and normal Mexican American high school students with those of Anglo LD and normal students. No differences in performance IQ between Mexican and Anglo LDs. Suggests language proficiency or sociocultural factors, not learning disabilities, cause differences. (Author/TES)

Advocates content-based reading as an effective way to facilitate foreign students' rapidly achieving reading proficiency in English. This article presents data on student achievement, feedback, and retention from a study of two variations of content-based English-as-a-Second-Language courses to support the author's position. (16 references)…

Generalizability theory is used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Listening and Writing Tests developed by American College Testing for its Work Keys program. Results with samples of 50 suggest the desirability of a minimum number of the tests' tape-recorded messages and the use of at least 2 raters. (SLD)