The Preschool Academic Skills Test was developed from an analysis of first-grade reading and mathematics materials to identify those behaviors that were assumed to be in students' repertoires prior to first grade. The 105 items are grouped in 10 subtests: Vocabulary, Color Naming, Classification, Functional Relationships, Visual Matching, Auditory…

In an attempt to explore a systematic approach to language expansion and improved sentence structure, echoic and modeling procedures for language instruction were compared. Four hypotheses were formulated: (1) children who use modeling procedures will produce better structured sentences than children who use echoic prompting, (2) both echoic and…

Single-score measures of intelligence are inadequate to predict performance on a programed instruction format. Guilford's model of the intellect accounts for three dimensions relevant to learner abilities. The content dimension refers to the kind of material involved, the product dimension to the kind of output required, and the process dimension…

The precision and efficiency of a cognitive test constructed by three different methods of item analysis was compared, using the verbal aptitude subtest of the Florida Twelfth Grade Test. Classical item analysis, factor analysis and the Rasch logistic model were used in the construction of 15 and 30 item subtests and replicated for samples of 250,…

Language teaching typically reflects current research, and, until quite recently, grammatical competence (e.g., in the Chomskyan sense) was the major target of linguistic research. Emphasizing the spoken language, the term "fluency," as applied to the foreign language performance of a language learner, is correlated to foreign language…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between student verbal ability and performance in an introductory United States history class at a comprehensive community college. For the purposes of this study, performance was defined as grade point average and rate of persistence. Because of degree requirements, students at…

In this study designed to generate hypotheses concerning adult learning, cognitive processes, and the reeducation of disadvantaged adults, the phenomena of concept attainment, symbol manipulation, verbal behavior, differential instruction, and awareness levels were investigated. Attention focus (cognitive style) in the concept attainment process…

The Anglo educator views the Asian American as the ideal student: hardworking and not causing trouble. The quiet, passive behavior of Asian American students, however, often signifies problems in verbalization needing attention. The verbal problems of the Asian American student can be viewed as the product of a cycle involving the Asian American…

Those who wish to expand communication programs in community colleges often have opportunities to develop special courses related to career programs. The speech communication educator offers information on a critical process of human behavior that should be shared with as many as possible, particularly those who are preparing for service…

In this 4-part study, 1970 test data from 45 American Indian youth (aged 11-15) attending Riverside Summer Institute in Anadarko, Oklahoma, were examined. Part 1 of the study sought to identify the pattern of strengths and weaknesses on the "Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children" (WISC) of Indian students with average intelligence and…

The purpose of this research was to begin to refute the deficit approach to the verbal abilities of poor children. The contention was that data collected on poor children's verbal abilities had been done in incorrect social situations. Prior research had indicated that language development is innate and that disadvantaged children will be…

Factors which contribute significantly to teacher effectiveness and which are important in selecting, employing, and promoting trade and industrial teachers are examined. These factors include interaction between teacher and student and behavioral changes. The key element discussed is verbal ability. (BM)

Language-impaired children (N=87) were assessed at the ages of 4, 4 1/2, and 5 1/2. In 37%, the language disorder resolved by 5 1/2 years (44% resolution in those with normal nonverbal ability). Outcome for individuals could be predicted with 90% accuracy at four years. (Author/KM)

Examines developmental changes in children's ability to comprehend visual and verbal narrative. Finds that understanding and integrating temporal aspects of a narrative is more difficult for young children when the story is presented visually than when presented verbally, whereas older children comprehend narratives in both formats equally well.…

This discussion of factors to consider in planning a successful public presentation highlights multimedia presentations; verbal skills; proper use of visual materials; an explanation of vision measurements; lettering size and style; screen size; level of illumination; and machine handling. (LRW)