Computational thinking (CT) is vital for success in numerous domains. However, the nature, definition, and scope of CT are ill-defined, and research on how best to develop CT is very limited. This study focused on how thinking styles and STEM attitudes have effects on computational thinking. Using a proportionate stratified random sampling…

Despite the centrality of the informal manufacturing sector ("Jua Kali") to the Kenyan society and its richness in scientific phenomena, there is no strong link between activities in the Jua Kali and school science. And, although there has been an ongoing public discourse in Kenya to industrialize, this hope is unlikely without…

The present study is based on the empathizing-systemizing (E-S) theory of cognitive science. It was hypothesized that the influence of students' gender on their motivation to learn science is often overestimated in the research literature and that cognitive style is more important for motivation than students' gender. By using structural equation…

Criticizes the practice of giving dependent-prone students more problem solving activities to change their behavior. Author responds that this alternative is better than a more didactic approach utilizing lecture-discussion or science reading. (Author/MA)

This study examined middle and high school students' perceptions of a weeklong science experience with nanotechnology and atomic force microscopy. Through an examination of student self assessments and their writing, the study allowed us to examine some of the issues that may contribute to discrepancies that are seen between European-American and…

Proposes the concept of cultural validity as a form of test validity in science assessment. Contends that current approaches to handling student diversity in assessment are limited. Discusses ways in which adopting cultural validity as a criterion for test validity makes it necessary to shift assessment paradigms and adopt new procedures for…

The purpose of this study was to identify a possible interaction between the cognitive style of the students and the instructional sequence of the materials and their combined effect on achievement. Findings indicate that interaction of cognitive style and instructional sequence is not significant in the ANCOVA. (Author/MA)

Investigated the meaning that Hindi-speaking students (N=826) in India and English-speaking students (N=1,635) in Tasmania preferred when thinking about each of 16 key concept definitions associated with the theme "the nature of matter." Results show marked changes in the development of these preferences which raises issues for science…

Reports a study of the relationship between nonverbal analytical perception and performance on a standardized science achievement test among premedical and predental students. Hypothesized that students with above-average scores on the Embedded Figures Test would attain higher than average achievement scores, as compared with students with…

Explores relationships among school students' (n=189) acquisition of meaningful understandings of protein synthesis. Analysis of student-generated analogies revealed unique patterns in students' understandings of this topic. Contains 41 references. (Author/WRM)

Cognitive preference, a cognitive style acquired through life and learning experiences and representing a distinct orientation to information processing, was related to creativity of college students (N=135). Correlations were observed between cognitive preference and verbal creativity but not with figural creativity as measured by the Torrance…

Investigated the predictive power of two written tests of Piagetian developmental level, The Understanding in Science Test and the Reasoning Test. Also examined the extent to which two variables, level of reading comprehension and level of field dependence-independence, were associated with performance of secondary school Australian students on…

Investigates the effect of cognitive style on the performance of college students on proportional reasoning tasks. Reports that students having proportional reasoning can be misled by the presence of field effects and that there was a significant correlation between the test of field independence and the items of proportional reasoning. (Author/YP)

Examined the effect of matching learners' cognitive styles with science learning activities on changes in science knowledge and attitudes. Fifty-six elementary education majors, identified as Sensing Feeling types on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, participated in the study. Results revealed no significant differences between matched and…

Presents meta-analysis of 54 articles and dissertations dealing with cognitive preferences. Information provided includes: test reliability; comparisons by country, grade level, gender, disciplines, and curricula; relationships between cognitive preferences and career orientation, science achievement, interest, and aptitude; and effect sizes.…