Listener adaptation to cerebral palsied speech

Tape recordings of cerebral palsied children with speech problems were played back to 10 speech correctionists on three different occasions one week apart. On the third occasion eight out of ten of the children were judged as having a less severe speech problem even though the correctionists were listening to exactly the same recordings under identical conditions. The results indicate that some of the improvement reported by speech therapists in the speech of cerebral palsied children, following a period of therapy, might represent a change in the listener rather than a change in the child's speech.     

The Effects of Discipline Membership and Experience in the Field on Scholars’ Book and Journal Format Preferences

Abstract

Using data from Ithaka S?+?R US Faculty Survey 2015, the current study examined the influence of disciplinary differences and experience levels as well as their interactions on scholars’ attitudes toward print and electronic materials. While results of 3?×?5 factorial ANOVA procedure indicated both disciplinary membership and experience played a role in scholars’ attitudes, effect size indicated disciplinary membership played a more crucial role. Significant findings include rising popularity of electronic formats across examined groups.     

From Literate to Information Literate Communities Through Advocacy

SUMMARY

Public libraries have long played an active role in creating literate communities, and we must now take steps to create information literate communities. Librarians and library stakeholders can use reliable advocacy techniques to strengthen information literacy in their own communities.     

Central states speech association members as of July 1, 1963

This study attempted to determine the possible differences in verbal output when normal speaking children were paired with speech defective children in an unstructured communicative situation as compared with the performance of normal speaking children paired with other normal speaking children.     

Children's dependence upon visual context in sentence comprehension

This study explored the manner in which young children utilize meaning clues implicit in nonlinguistic aspects of context to aid comprehension of difficult sentences. Comprehension of reversible passive sentences was measured for the degree to which visual context could be helpful to sentence understanding. Results indicated a strong reliance on visual cues by children from three to seven years of age. The use of visual aids as a means of helping children develop comprehension strategies is suggested.     

A cross‐cultural analysis of children's television use

This study compared uses of U.S. television by foreign children residing in the U.S. and their American counterparts in light of theories of acculturation, cultivation, and uses and gratifications. Compared with U.S. children, foreign children: used television more for learning purposes, were relatively more interested in television programs, spent more time watching television, identified more frequently with television characters, and expressed stronger beliefs in the social reality portrayed by television.     

Pediatricians and speech disorders

The authors present the results of personal interviews with several practicing pediatricians relative to their information about speech disorders and their disposition of speech defective children presented to them.     

The development of compromising as an alternative to persuasion

Children's responses to situations in which their interests conflicted with those of the other interactant were investigated to determine whether children would attempt to persuade the other or to initiate compromise. One hundred twenty‐seven third, fourth, and sixth graders constructed messages in such situations. There was a tendency for more of the older children than young ones to spontaneously initiate compromise. Results were interpreted in terms of development and communicative skills reflecting the pursual of multiple goals. In this case, older children were concerned not only with their own primary interests, but with those of the other interactant.     

The mass media and young people

The study reported below analyzes differences in mass media attention behavior in Des Moines school children in 1950 and 1958. It is interesting to compare its findings with those of Edwin Parker, starting on page 39 of this issue of the Journal.     

Communication patterns,sex, and length of verbalization in speech of four‐year‐old children

The mean length of verbalization of 56 four‐year‐old Head Start children was measured in four communication patterns—dyad, triad, small group, and role‐playing triad. The children produced more speech in the small group than in the dyad. Differences between other patterns were not significant. Similar results were obtained when repetitions of words and phrases were eliminated. Females produced, more speech than males in all communication patterns.     

Online Information Retrieval in School Library Media Centers

Abstract

In the 1990′s, school library media specialists must stress their expertise as teaching professionals in order to make informed decisions relating to the automation of library catalogs. The cognitive paradigm provides a user-centered perspective of the information retrieval process and confirms the problematic nature of the new technology for children. By applying the cognitive viewpoint to online information retrieval, school library media specialists can help guide system design and plan instructional programs that are developmentally appropriate for children.     

Television exposure and language development

A language sample and a television log were collected from 93 preschool children. Correlations between the language sophistication levels of the subjects and television exposure showed a significant negative inverse relationship. Differential results between types of programs viewed and language development suggest support for an environmentalist theory of language development.     

Language attitudes: An analysis of teacher differences

Based upon a (Q‐type factor analysis, teachers were grouped according to their patterns of rating videotaped speech samples of Black, Anglo, and Mexican‐American children. As in prior research, ratings reflected global judgments of confidence‐eagerness and ethnicity‐nonstandardness. General corroboration xvas found among speech ratings, teachers’ stereotype ratings of different ethnic groups, and the teachers’ academic expectations of children representing such groups. Results held a number of implications regarding the linguistic attitudes of teachers.     

The World of Charles J. Kappler: A Digital Portrait

ABSTRACT

Charles J. Kappler (1868–1946) is known almost exclusively for his Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties compilation, yet his life and his career were much fuller. Besides serving as Clerk for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, he was co-counsel for the Pious Fund of the Californias v. Mexico proceedings before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and, in one role or another, played a substantial part in many significant federal Indian law cases before the United States Supreme Court in the years leading up to the establishment of the Indian Claims Commission. A digital Web site has been developed to present lesser known aspects of his personal and professional life.     

Russian National Electronic Children's Library

ABSTRACT

The Russian State Children's Library (RGDB) is the largest children's library in the world and has been serving as a cultural and educational center for more than 45 years. Important aspects of RGDB's activities are the development of electronic resources and setting up the library site for distant users. The National Electronic Children's Library in Russia is a specialized digital collection of publications about children and for children. This article focuses on these aspects and the future steps of the project.     

UpToDate versus DynaMed: a cross-sectional study comparing the speed and accuracy of two point-of-care information tools

Objective:To compare the accuracy, time to answer, user confidence, and user satisfaction between UpToDate and DynaMed (formerly DynaMed Plus), which are two popular point-of-care information tools.Methods:A crossover study was conducted with medical residents in obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine at the University of Toronto in order to compare the speed and accuracy with which they retrieved answers to clinical questions using UpToDate and DynaMed. Experiments took place between February 2017 and December 2019. Following a short tutorial on how to use each tool and completion of a background survey, participants attempted to find answers to two clinical questions in each tool. Time to answer each question, the chosen answer, confidence score, and satisfaction score were recorded for each clinical question.Results:A total of 57 residents took part in the experiment, including 32 from family medicine and 25 from obstetrics and gynecology. Accuracy in clinical answers was equal between UpToDate (average 1.35 out of 2) and DynaMed (average 1.36 out of 2). However, time to answer was 2.5 minutes faster in UpToDate compared to DynaMed. Participants were also more confident and satisfied with their answers in UpToDate compared to DynaMed.Conclusions:Despite a preference for UpToDate and a higher confidence in responses, the accuracy of clinical answers in UpToDate was equal to those in DynaMed. Previous exposure to UpToDate likely played a major role in participants'' preferences. More research in this area is recommended.     

Slavica Publishers: Fifty Years of Service to the Slavic Field

ABSTRACT

Slavica Publishers has played an important role in the fields of Slavic languages and literatures and Slavic area studies for 50 years. This article provides a brief history of the publishing house, focusing on key book and journal publications; the transition in 1997 from closely held privately owned corporation to not-for-profit status as a unit of Indiana University; evolution from predominately self-produced authors’ CRC to professionally typeset and edited volumes; and plans to keep Slavica relevant in the future. It is implicit that Slavica might serve as a model for other struggling small academic presses in this time of rapid change and chaos in scholarly publishing.