Scientists use judgment in deciding what and how much data to present in publications but science degrees rarely address this issue. Instead, scientific knowledge is presented as certain and students have limited opportunities to use their own judgment in the laboratory. A consequence of this may be that students approach science with a moral…

Low teacher self-efficacy is an important factor constraining the teaching of science at the elementary level. This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of particular sources of efficacy information for enhancing the science teaching self-efficacy of practicing elementary teachers. Twelve teachers participated in an intervention…

"For seven to nine year old children, it is easier to conserve weight on plasticine rather than on a rubber band or on alcohol in a thermometer . . . Boys perform significantly better than girls." (Author/AL)

In this ethnographic study of summer undergraduate research (UR) experiences at four liberal arts colleges, where faculty and students work collaboratively on a project of mutual interest in an apprenticeship of authentic science research work, analysis of the accounts of faculty and student participants yields comparative insights into the…

Presents results from Singaporean and Australian studies on the relationships between the cognitive variables and problem solving performance in three electrochemistry problems of different degrees of familiarity for comparisons. Concludes that idea association, problem translating skill, prior problem solving experience, specific knowledge, and…

There were no differences in the types of responses given by children in response to the question What makes clouds move?'' whether they were interviewed by telephone, by a person in normal dress, or by someone wearing clerical dress. The responses were similar to those reported by Piaget. (AL)

Examines Piaget's learning theories and his endorsement of the biological viewpoints of Jean Baptiste de Lamarck. Particular points in Piaget's theories and their relationships to Lamarck's biology are discussed. (CP)

Japanese and Thai kindergarten children were shown the same visual displays of moving objects and asked to compare the speed of those moving objects. The results significantly indicated that Thai children's concept of speed is further advanced than that of Japanese children. (MLH)

Although there was an increase in the proportion of students using the logical principle of exclusion" from grades 7 to 9 to 12, there was little relationship with IQ and socio-economic measures. (AL)

Summarizes Piagetian developmental psychology, and describes a study in which trainee elementary school teachers administered Piagetian tasks to pupils. During this time the teachers were being instructed in the development of children's thought processes. Results support the continued use of the method. (AL)

Examines the cognitive supports that underlie achievement in science using a cultural historical framework and the activity setting (AS) construct with five features: personnel, motivation, scripts, task demands, and beliefs. Reports four emergent phenomena--science activities, the building of learning, meaning in lessons, and the conflict over…

Attacks the precept that students should choose and direct their own learning activities according to what interests them. Indicates that the notion of personal responsibility in learning is vitally important, but is misunderstood by advocates of "open" education. (GS)

Discusses Novak's views that Ausubel's meaningful learning can become an alternative to Piagetian psychology and argues that Ausubel does not provide a theory that can be an alternative to Piaget's developmental psychology. (HM)

Investigates Inhelder and Piaget's claim that ages six to nine or ten represent a stage in children's learning of the concepts of all and some. (HM)

Reports on an investigation designed to study the ability of 11 to 17 year old students to control variables when presented with science problem situations in three types of question formats (free response, multiple choice, screen question). (HM)