Seven chapters consider what learning is and what counts as learning in the context of formal schooling. How qualitative research assists in this examination is explored. Qualitative research is an indispensable tool in the repertoire of research approaches that will illuminate learning discourse. (SLD)

The study of consciousness requires a language for exact and precise communication. This research project investigated how workers from different cultural contexts value information that is relevant to their job performance. Thirty-five randomly selected mechanics, from Sweden, England, West Germany, Italy, and the United States, were selected as…

Described is the Man in a Changing Society (MIS) project in which K-12 Swedish children use parish records to study and research local history. Church records in Sweden contain detailed information about individuals living during the 18th and 19th centuries. To make this information accessible to researchers, the Swedish church records are being…

An overview of educational evaluation literature is followed by summaries of research on both the perceptions of school principals about their awareness and use of evaluation in decision-making and their evaluation behavior. New lines of research on evaluation for decision-making as a learning process are offered. (MLF)

This paper examines children's preferences and understanding of stories and story elements by analyzing an extensive collection of art, writing, and teacher observations of one child, Virginia. The paper traces the progession of Virginia's understanding of character, setting, action/plot, and preference for fairy tale structures as evidenced in…

Helping children and youth learn through school experiences to deal constructively with questions of peace, war, and ways to promote peace preparedness is the purpose of this four-year peace education project. The principal goals of the project include: (1) an inventory and analysis of experiences and related peace education projects in various…

A discussion is presented concerning variables associated with children's representation of certain addition and subtraction problems. Problem components are classified as physical, pictorial, sensual, verbal-spoken, verbal-written, symbolic, or internal. Problems are discussed as abstract (symbolic) or nonsymbolic. Three problem components are…

Thirteen research reports related to mathematics education are abstracted and analyzed. Four of the reports deal with learning or thought processes, two each with concept formation, sex differences, teacher effects and student abilities, and one report deals with anxiety. An editor's note lists various other sources of reviews of research in…

Papers by graduate students, and occasionally papers from their mentors which establish a context for the student papers, are organized by sponsoring University. Student papers presented are: (1) "An Overview of the Development Stages in Children's Drawings" (Jeralyn Hufford); (2) "Theories and Activities of Conceptual Artists: An Aesthetic…

Eleven papers comprise the special issue on learning disabilities and deal with definition, prevalence, promising research strategies, and potentially effective educational treatments oriented toward the processes of thought and the "learning to learn" strategy. (DB)

Volume 8, No. 2 of Investigations in Science Education contains critiques of articles dealing with science education research about various aspects of instruction. Also included are five responses from authors of articles to critiques of their work as it has been reported in professional journals. In total, this volume contains 10 critiques and…

The relationship between children's language and their knowledge of the various features of their language and their reading is examined from the perspective of several prominent theories about the link between thought and language. The first chapter contrasts features of five significant contemporary theories of language and thought--the Russian,…

This annual publication contains 43 research papers on a variety of issues related to science education. Topics include the following: mature-age students; teacher professional development; spreadsheets and science instruction; the Learning in Science Project and putting it into practice; science discipline knowledge in primary teacher education;…

As powerful as the compelling reasons for reform in science education are, there is also uncertainty about where this reform may lead. This special issue focuses on reform in K-12 science education. The 23 articles in this book are placed in the following sections: (1) In this issue, (2) Project 2061, (3) The Scope, Sequence and Coordination…

This issue contains abstracts and critical comments of 10 articles. Studies included focus on sex differences in mathematical learning, intuitive functional concepts, multiple embodiments of place value concepts, instructional activities of high and low achievers, effective management at the beginning of the school year, cross-age peer tutoring,…