Presents evidence from the memory development literature showing why strategies and metaknowledge are not sufficient factors to account for memory development. Summarizes current research on the influence of the general knowledge base, including general world-knowledge and domain-specific knowledge and procedures. Discusses questions that must be…

Children's memory for a standardized, hierarchically organized event was tested in two experiments. Results indicated that the rudiments of a hierarchical structure had emerged after a single experience. Results are discussed in terms of implications for the development and organization of event memories. (PCB)

This paper defines a schema as a memory structure representing a general concept and its framework of associated concepts, and identifies the three processes by which learning can occur in individuals whose memories are schema-based, i.e., accretion, tuning, and restructuring. Ways in which schema might influence instructional design are then…

This paper details how memory protocols obtained in individual interviews may be translated to scores on several dimensions suggested by White. White's nine dimensions are: (1) extent, (2) precision, (3) internal consistency, (4) accord with reality, (5) variety of types of element, (6) variety of topics, (7) shape, (8) ratio of internal to…

Decisions assume some level of interdependency between knowledge and know-how, these being distinct realities. Knowledge refers to the understanding one has of a phenomenon while know-how refers to one's capability of actions on a phenomenon. Information can be related to decision only by transforming data which is held in a semiotic memory into…

Compares typicality effects in recall between good and poor junior high readers to determine the influence of knowledge base upon memory. Results suggest that poor readers have a different knowledge base for familiar categories than good readers and that cognitive differences between them are related to differences in their semantic memories.…

Evidence points to a pervasive tendency for persons to behave to maintain their existing cognitive structures. One strategy by which this self-verification is made more probable involves information processing. Through attention, encoding and retrieval, and the interpretation of events, persons process information so that self-confirmatory…

This paper outlines several properties of internal representational models (IRMs) and offers terminology that may help to differentiate the models. Properties of IRMs include focus, memory systems, content, cognitive function, "metastructure," quality of attachment, behavioral strategies, and attitude toward attachment. An IRM focuses on…

Points out that the world of television activates, cultivates, and alters the gender schemata that children bring to the viewing situation. Finds that viewing can also promote creation of new schemata or modification of existing ones. (Author/RWB)

First and fifth graders participated in this assessment of ways in which differential experience with objects in a spatial array might establish relative landmarks within the array. Results suggest that different levels of experience can establish elements as relative landmarks in spatial memory. (Author/RWB)

Two experiments look at factors influencing the ways children construct an abstract representation of story structure that contains the characteristics described by story grammars. (RWB)

Examines research which suggests that children's developing knowledge about traditional gender roles has a substantial influence on how children process information pertaining to gender. Evidence also shows that as children attain gender constancy, their behaviors become especially responsive to gender-related information. (Author/RWB)

Discussed are the principles of Gestalt psychology and the history and future of the movement. A comparison of Gestalt, Behaviorist, and Structuralist ideas is included. The study of perception, learning, memory, and thinking from the Gestaltist point of view is described. (KR)

Described is an investigation that determined whether young children have schemas for environmental information. The results are discussed with reference to the importance of memory schemas for learning about the environment. (KR)

A dominant theme in cognitive psychology is that prior knowledge in long-term memory has a strong influence on an individual's cognitive processing. Citing numerous memory studies with children, knowledge base effects are presented as part of a broader picture of memory development. Using the sort/recall procedure (asking subjects to group sets of…