Introductory biology courses are widely criticized for overemphasizing details and rote memorization of facts. Data to support such claims, however, are surprisingly scarce. We sought to determine whether this claim was evidence-based. To do so we quantified the cognitive level of learning targeted by faculty in introductory-level biology courses.…

Provides a list of 27 cognitive objectives that are applicable to preschool and early childhood years. Relates elements of the list to the classification systems of Bloom, Gagne, and Briggs. (RL)

Results obtained from the research were inconsistent, indicating no support for the thesis that objectives aid learning. Research recommendations are submitted, with conclusions drawn reflecting the positive attitudes toward presenting objectives. (JB)

Discusses the perceived importance of practical components in natural science undergraduate programs in distance and residential universities in the Netherlands. Surveys of faculty responsible for undergraduate practicals rated general and specific learning objectives. (Contains 26 references.) (SLW)

The study deals with five research questions: (1) is the Taxonomy of Education Objectives: Affective and Cognitive Domains a reasonable tool for use in stating and measuring attainment of objectives? (2) is the cognitive domain cumulative in social science subject matter? (3) does ability to operate at the various cognitive levels differ with…

High-level behavioral objectives did not produce greater learning than low-level, contrary to previous findings using study questions interspersed through written prose. Overt use of objectives at both levels produced greater learning, supporting the idea that procedures requiring semantic encoding are instructionally superior to those requiring…

Cognitive effects in children's learning of altruistic behavior were tested with an adaptation of Aronfreed's test design and machine. Children in grades 1-4 were presented with a machine with 2 levers. One lever, when pressed, released bubble gum, and the other turned on a light. For two of the three groups the experimenter exclaimed delightedly…

The syllabus contains detailed information concerning an introductory college course in psychology. The primary objectives are to help the student acquire basic knowledge of vocabulary, concepts, methods and theories used by psychologists, and skills in interpreting psychological knowledge and applying it to daily life, everyday problems, and…

The relative effectiveness of including behavioral objectives, classified according to the major levels of cognition, in independent study materials for high school juniors is analyzed in this brief summary of the author's dissertation. The three major questions under consideration are whether: (1) the use of behavioral objectives has an effect…

Questions teachers use to elicit responses from students affect the kind of thought process the student will use and subsequently the type of answer he will suggest ways in which behavioral and educational objectives are reflected in teacher questions. Simplified interaction analysis techniques can be useful in diagnosing and assessing the…

This paper examines and summarizes the "Pierce-Gray Classification Model for the Cognitive, Affective, and Psychomotor Domains," a model developed for the classification of educational objectives. The classification system was developed to provide a framework that teachers could use as a guide when developing specific instructional objectives for…

This report opens by asking how operations in general, and addition and subtraction in particular, are characterized for elementary school students, and examines the "standard" instruction of these topics through secondary schooling. Some common errors and/or "sloppiness" in the typical textbook presentations are noted, and…

The Elementary School Evaluation Kit has been devised as an aid in evaluating student performance levels across a wide range of concepts and skills, interpreting the resultant data, and providing a basis for valid decisions aimed at improving the students' performance. Included in the kit are needs analysis procedures that enable a principal to…

The task of the conference reported here was to exchange ideas about approaches taken to social science content in the new curricula. The hope was to contribute to the improvement of the large and growing amount of academically based curriculum work through interdisciplinary exposure. The major emphasis was on cognitive content and its…

This manual is intended to serve as a step-by-step guide to writing criterion-referenced tests. It includes directions on constructing and scoring various types of test items to measure each level of cognitive function. The manual gives a method for writing, analyzing and rewriting instructional objectives; preparing a content outline; matching…