Pulsed ultrasound was used to study tongue movements in the speech of children from 3 to 11 years of age. Speech data attained were characteristic of systems that can be described by second-order differential equations. Relationships observed in these systems may indicate that speech control involves tonic and phasic muscle inputs. (Author/RH)

Combinatorial abilities in language and elicited symbolic play were compared in a longitudinal study of 30 children at 20 and 28 months. In addition, multivariate analyses were used to assess the stability of individual differences. Generally, different symbolic play variables contributed unique explained variance to different language variables.…

Comparisons were made in the conversations of 16 low income children in a preschool intervention program, a group of low income children not in the program, and a group of middle income children. Adults' conversational turns included three types of cognitively complex initiations. Results demonstrated a facilitating effect of day care…

Demonstrates a training technique for improving the referential performance of young children and for obtaining generalization of this training. Findings on generalization suggest that further investigation should reveal practical applications of the method for the classroom and clinic. (RH)

Compares the semantic processing skills of younger adults (mean age 25) and older adults (mean age 68). After reading a sentence, subjects performed a task in which responses did not depend on retention. Results provided no evidence for age-related changes, including those associated with access to implied information. (Author/RH)

A developmental model of story liking predicts that (1) reader identification increases with greater perceived similarity between character and reader; (2) increased identification leads to greater suspense; (3) liking of story outcome is a joint function of character valence and outcome valence; and (4) overall liking of story increases with…

Addresses limitations of previous research by testing second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade children on three measures: an open-ended interview, a story-recognition task, and a questionnaire about the importance of different characteristics to friendships and acquaintanceships. Friendship expectations based on dispositional characteristics increased…

Investigates reciprocity in friends' knowledge of each other's personal-social characteristics as a function of age and type of friendship. Using a picture-sort procedure, 48 first- and fourth-grade dyads from mutual and unilateral friendships selected items most descriptive of themselves and their friends. (Author/RH)

Considerable stability was observed on measures of acceptance, rejection, preference, and impact in a one-year longitudinal study of sociometric stability and friendship choice consistency in an early-adolescent peer group. Findings provided new information about patterns of stability in early adolescent peer groups and revealed the need for…

A total of 50 children between 6 and 13 years of age were tested for a predicted, eight-step sequence of family role concepts. Dolls representing typical roles were used as props, and each child was asked questions concerning role explanations and increasingly abstract family definitions. The sequence was found to be scalable and age-related.…

In a sample of 64 students (grades 8 and 11, undergraduate, and graduate), this study assesses evaluation and understanding of moral-stage-prototypic statements equated for level of language. Results support the hierarchical nature of moral stages despite the equating of language level. (Author/RH)

Concepts of body parts and their relationships were assessed in children ages three, four, and five, as well as in adults. Three specific questions were addressed: (1) What do children understand about such "partonomic" relations? (2) Is there an order in the acquisition of partonomic concepts? and (3) Do children exhibit any confusions in their…

First and second graders were exposed to a memory task in which their recall performance varied as a function of their incidentally elicited sorting behavior. When asked what had affected their recall, only some children at each grade identified sorting as a causal factor. Causal attributions predicted use of sorting strategy in a standard…

Examines the psychometric properties of two procedures for reducing data from the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale: factor and cluster analysis. The sample consisted of 85 male and 77 female newborns. (RH)

Classified fetuses as accelerators or decelerators based on intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR). Explored the relationship of the classification with gestational age and neonatal behavior in clinically healthy neonates to provide an empirical basis for using FHR in the study of infant behavior. Subjects were 48 "healthy term" or "healthy preterm"…