Book review

Oyama, S. The ontogeny of information: Developmental systems and evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1986. Pp. ix + 206. Hardback: ISBN 0-521-32098-4. £22.50 ($34.50). Paperback: ISBN 0-521-31257-4. £8.95 ($12.95).     

The Choice of Weapons: A Study of Methods of Suicide by Sex,Race, and Region

ABSTRACT: The relationship of sex, race and region to methods of suicide are used to test the validity of two theories which attempt to explain the choice of methods among suicide victims. The two theories, lethality of intent and differential socialization with firearms, are briefly discussed. Data are collected from official death certificates in five cities during a three year period, 1969 through 1971. The findings provide little support for the lethality of intent theory. Although the differential socialization theory receives partial support, one can argue for a broader sociocultural perspective on methods of suicide which includes location in the social structure as well as regional socialization.     

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF OUT‐OF‐LEVEL TESTING WITH POOR READERS IN THE INTERMEDIATE GRADES

Forty‐seven fourth‐and‐fifth grade students whose raw scores on the Gates‐MacGinitie Level D (on‐level test) were determined to be unsuitable were administered an out‐of‐level test (Level C) to ascertain whether the out‐of‐level test would be a more appropriate test for those students. Two questions were addressed in this study. First, are there significant differences in students’ derived scores on the Gates‐MacGinitie when an on‐level test (Level D) that is judged to be unsuitable is compared to an out‐of‐level test (Level C)? Second, is use of an out‐of‐level test more suitable in terms of Roberts’ criterion of the raw scores achieved by the students? There were no significant differences between the derived scores from on‐level and out‐of‐level testing for each of the subtests. The out‐of‐level raw scores did fall within the accepted range for the test to be considered suitable and reliable.     

Judgments of grammaticalness: A partial replication and extension

This study is a partial replication and extension of a study by Maclay and Sleator (1961) involving judgments of grammaticalness. In an effort to overcome various methodological shortcomings in the earlier study, 152 male subjects were asked to judge a series of 36 word sequences on the dimensions of grammaticalness, meaningfulness, and ordinariness under five different modes of stimulus presentation. Results of the present study failed to confirm the findings reported earlier by Maclay and Sleator. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to several basic issues in the scaling of judgments of grammaticalness.