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The purpose of this investigation was to gather empirical data concerning the learnability of content and function words taught in treatments of isolation and oral context to groups of prereading first grade pupils in high and low socio-economic levels. One hundred twelve subjects were tested through a paired-associate task and the data were analyzed in a 2 X 2 X 2 analysis of covariance. Of the main effects--word class, treatment, and socio-economic level--only the latter two were significant. Results indicate that socio-economic level and context may be important factors in initial learning. (Author)

Because vocabulary control in children's reading materials is largely based on vocabulary lists and studies which are now obsolete, new areas of learning are being considered for developing beginning reading materials. Instead of basing vocabulary lists on frequency counts and adult reading materials, the three approaches examined here are concerned with paired-associate learning which begins with the child. According to the concept of learnability, there are individual characteristics within printed words which make them easier or harder to learn than other words. A second approach to learning demonstrates that children's associations are predominantly syntagmatic in contrast to the paradigmatic associations of adults. Another area of learning related to children's vocabulary is the division of words into two categories: those which convey the message information and those which convey information about the structure, i.e., function words. Results of a recent pilot study with 24 6-year-old prereaders indicated that there is no difference in learnability between the two word classes, although previous research had reported a dichotomy existed. A bibliography is included. (DH)

Pre-timed traffic light system, which is currently used, is no longer sufficient at handling vehicular congestion. Various intelligent traffic control signals are present to replace the currently used system. These systems only focused on the parameters of the vehicles. Most intersections contain traffic signals for pedestrians and vehicles, pedestrian lanes must also be considered in the decision making of the intelligent traffic signals. Cameras were used to estimate the number of pedestrian and vehicle at an intersection. A fuzzy logic controller is used to receive and process the information for the decision making of the traffic light system. NetLogo — a multi-agent programmable modeling environment was used to create a traffic model and a simulation environment to simulate and test the developed fuzzy logic system. Results shows that the fuzzy logic system poses a lower rate of car congestion compared to the pre timed system, and this is tested for 3 sets of data including a different time. A lesser number of vehicles congestion will result to less waiting time at a traffic intersection. The developed fuzzy logic based adaptive traffic light system has proven the effectiveness of reducing the congestion and waiting time of vehicles.

Concluded that the combined scores on the Dulin-Chester Scale, Estes Scale, and Reading Weights Test comprised the best means of distinguishing five separate reading attitude groups. (DD)

Presents a questionnaire which can be used to determine what kind of inservice training in reading secondary teachers want. (MKM)

Principals of all secondary schools in British Columbia were surveyed to obtain data on the focus, populations, and staffing of their reading programs. (NQ)

Concludes that the Estes Scale is an effective instrument for measuring levels of positive attitude toward books and reading. (RB)

This study attempted to determine the overlap between two word lists, one derived from written sources (The Great Atlantic and Pacific Sight Word List) and one constructed from oral language (Newman-Bailey List). It is suggested that differences between children's spoken words and the words in school texts may be more fancied than factual. (Authors/JA)

Presents the 500 words which appeared most frequently in an extensive sampling of third grade materials, drawn from the Word Frequency Book,'' and compares the list to other existing sight word lists. (AN)