Whereas the assessment of complex problem solving (CPS) has received increasing attention in the context of international large-scale assessments, its fairness in regard to students' cultural background has gone largely unexplored. On the basis of a student sample of 9th-graders (N = 299), including a representative number of immigrant students (N…

The increasing prominence of standardized testing to assess student learning motivated the current investigation. We propose that standardized achievement test scores assess competencies determined more by intelligence than by self-control, whereas report card grades assess competencies determined more by self-control than by intelligence. In…

High school students were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions to assess affective benefits of using cooperative and group goal structures on problem-solving tasks. Results showed that students who worked in groups performed better and expressed greater certainty and enjoyment of tasks than students who worked alone. (Author/RD)

An experiment investigated: (1) how verbalization of subtraction with regrouping operations influenced learning disabled students' self-efficacy and skillful performance; and (2) explored how effort-attributional feedback affected achievement behaviors. Continuous feedback led to high self-efficacy and skillful performance, and effort feedback…

Experimental teachers receiving feedback concerning teaching skill were more effective than control teachers in controlling their own behavior and reducing learner inattention. The experimental teachers were also more effective in their ability to diagnose more often, to employ appropriate diagnostic procedures, and to assist students in mastering…

This special section on cognition and mathematics contains an introduction and 13 articles on advances in the psychology of mathematics learning. The articles focus on how students learn to solve mathematics problems, including arithmetic computation problems, arithmetic word problems, and computer programing problems. (SLD)

Investigates the behaviors, interactions, and perceptions of junior high school students as they worked in structured or unstructured cooperative learning groups on problem-solving, curriculum-based tasks in mathematics, science and English. Results show that children in the structured groups were more cooperative and provided more relevant verbal…

Instrumental Enrichment was compared with direct help in school subjects under field conditions in Israel. Effects favoring Instrumental Enrichment on intellective and nonintellective criteria and residential settings on some intellective measures were obtained. Results indicated that mediating basic deficiencies in problem solving produces better…

The purpose of this study was to examine the cognitive correlates of RD-grade skill in arithmetic, algorithmic computation, and arithmetic word problems. Third graders (N = 312) were measured on language, nonverbal problem solving, concept formation, processing speed, long-term memory, working memory, phonological decoding, and sight word…

Effects of mothers' need for approval on children's expectancies for success and persistence during failure were studied for 90 fifth graders attempting to solve 4 puzzles, 3 of which were unsolvable. Parental and situational variables affect children's achievement cognitions and behavior. Implications for parental socialization of achievement are…