Discussion Groups / English Usage / August 2009

The safest approach in cases like these is to see what other
(authoritative) sources do, especially those close to you. Most (if not
all) of my Google hits for "Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking" are
capitalised; some have the (R) character after Torrance. I got no hits
for "Bull?s Eye Model for Affective Development"--did you make it up?

I agree that "the meta-cognitive model" should remain lower cased. As a
general guideline, I would expect expressions including proper names to
be capitalised and anonymous processes not to be; but I would not rely on
that in practice.

My thoughts are that you would most likely be using such constructions in
relatively formal documents, for which there must exist some specified
style guide ()such as the _Chicago_), from which guide you should seek
enlightenment.  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_guide

Yes to both althoiugh I have not heard of the Bull's Eye Model.  The
Torrance Tests of Creative  Thinking is an established test/set of
tests, I forget which and if the context agrees then the Bull's Eye
etc would be similar.

You might want to check in the Buro's Mental Measurement Yearbook if
you have access to it.  Most universities should have it and it is
available on-line for a fee. However a quick check suggests Bull's Eye
is not in the MMY.

You might want to cross check this with the American Psychological
Association style manual.

John Kane Kingston ON Canada