In this study, 46 normal and 39 developmentally handicapped intermediate-grade students were administered the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, the Matrix Analogies Test-Short Form, and Draw A Person: A Quantitative Scoring System, in order to probe the utility of the latter two tests in screening for mental retardation. (Author/PB)

This investigation compared the Peabody Individual Achievement Test and the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test scores of 131 children in grades 1-8, in order to determine whether findings of lower Woodcock scores are equally robust for each level. Differences in validity coefficients decreased from earlier to later grades. (Author/PB)

An ecological-systems view is presented describing academic underachievement in highly verbal, gifted adolescents. It is argued that a unique pattern of interests, motives, and cognitive styles results in a differential pattern of achievement for these youth. Implications for psychoeducational assessment, pedagogy, and counseling are discussed.…

Fifty-three parents of children with educable mental handicaps, behavioral disorders, and learning disabilities completed a questionnaire on the types and numbers of program modifications needed to persuade them to accept full-time mainstreaming for their elementary-level children. Parents' specific mainstreaming recommendations are discussed…

College students (n=80) rated children labeled as male/female, "gifted"/"average" and gender-typical/gender-atypical in academic interests on 30 adjective scales. Children labeled "gifted" were rated closer to "odd" than to "fits in well." Gender-atypical boys were considered more "odd" and gender-atypical girls were rated less "odd" than were…

Completed a factor analysis of the abbreviated Conners Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS) for 108 regular and special education students. Two factors accounted for 69.5 percent of the total response variance: Factor I described attention deficits and motor activity, and Factor II described excessive affective reactions. (JAC)

Examined the relationship between the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) in 30 mildly retarded adolescents. The WISC-R was administered at about age 14 and the WAIS-R at about age 18. Results were comparable for both tests. (JAC)

Examined the concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) in a sample of 101 students aged 6 to 16, referred for learning, mental or emotional disabilities. Results showed significant correlations between the PPVT-R and the WISC-R overall sample. (JAC)

Evaluated Bannatyne's genetic dyslexic subtype of reading disability using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised data from 140 disabled readers and matched controls. Although a familial pattern of reading problems was present among the relatives of the disabled readers, it was not unique to the genetic dyslexic subtype. (JAC)

Compared the performance of 21 moderately mentally retarded children on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MSCA), Stanford-Binet, and Minnesota Child Development Inventory (MCDI). Mental age estimates from the three measures correlated significantly, but valid MSCA Index scores could not be obtained. (JAC)

Evaluated the receptive vocabulary ability and nonverbal cognitive ability of 20 Spanish-speaking and 11 bilingual Mexican-American preschool children. The children obtained significantly lower scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised than on the Perceptual Performance Scale of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Bilingual…

Describes a specific empirical method for the systematic observation of examiner behavior during psychoeducational assessments, the Systematic Observation Scale for Assessments (SOS-A). Discusses development of the instrument and presents data on intra- and interobserver agreement. The instrument is regarded as an initially adequate method for…

Surveyed 142 rural school psychologists asking them to describe the advantages of practicing school psychology in rural school settings. Three main clusters of responses emerged including close contact and good working relationships with teachers, administrators, and parents; role diversity and autonomy; and positive environmental context. (JAC)

Examined the roles of 11 school psychologists in an urban school in a time sampling study conducted by trained observers. Results generally confirmed the findings of self-report studies showing that 30-40 percent of the psychologists' time was spent in assessment. (JAC)

Evaluated the effects of a school psychological and social work program on children referred for behavioral and learning problems. General findings showed that consultation activities can be conducted with small investment of time and with a high degree of student accomplishment of objectives. (JAC)