In this work we propose the application of symbolic methods for extraction of semantic valences of the verbs describing them under the Government Pattern concept of the Meaning ⇔ Text Theory. The method is based on the automatic processing of the definitions of verbs used in Explanatory Dictionaries and the analysis of semantic relationships, as inclusion and synonymy, given among them. We beli...

AIM To explore whether the phrasing of the questions and the response alternatives would influence the answers to questions about legalisation of euthanasia. METHODS Results were compared from two different surveys in populations with similar characteristics. The alternatives "positive", "negative", and "don't know" (first questionnaire) were replaced with an explanatory text, "no legal sanct...

Aim: To explore whether the phrasing of the questions and the response alternatives would influence the answers to questions about legalisation of euthanasia. Methods: Results were compared from two different surveys in populations with similar characteristics. The alternatives ‘‘positive’’, ‘‘negative’’, and ‘‘don’t know’’ (first questionnaire) were replaced with an explanatory text, ‘‘no lega...

Overwhelming evidence now indicates that the quality of reporting of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) is less than optimal. Recent methodologic analyses indicate that inadequate reporting and design are associated with biased estimates of treatment effects. Such systematic error is seriously damaging to RCTs, which boast the elimination of systematic error as their primary hallmark. Systema...

We examined young readers’ comprehension as a function of text genre (narrative, science), text cohesion (high, low), and readers’ abilities (reading decoding skills and world knowledge). The overarching purpose of this study was to contribute to our understanding of the fourth grade slump. Children in grade 4 read four texts, including one high and one low cohesion text from each genre. Compre...