This paper presents the thesis that a perceptual rationale for visual literacy may be found in operational form within what is measured by established tests of cognitive style. Ten primary dimensions of cognitive style are briefly reviewed, including field independence-field dependence, impulsivity-reflectivity, visual-haptic, leveling-sharpening,…

This paper examines the nature of human abilities in light of recent advances in information-processing and discusses implications of these developments for cognitive assessment of children. (CJ)

This study assessed the effects of learning computer programing on children's cognitive style, metacognitive ability, cognitive development, and ability to describe directions. Eighteen children (age six) received one of two 12-week treatments: LOGO computer programing or computer-assisted instruction. Results indicated programing may influence…

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…

The purpose of this study was to identify potential sources of individual and group differences affecting formal thought, and to examine the relationship between the performance of college students on a specific formal operational task and their performance on other cognitive measures identified as possible sources of individual differences. (MK)

Concerned with a high failure rate in computer programming courses, two studies were undertaken to discover if two individual cognitive styles--"analytic" (formal thought) and "heuristic" (concrete or pre-operational thought)--were predictors of performance in a beginning computer programming course. To appropriately measure…

A sample of college students was used to determine whether there was a correlation between Lowenfeld's visual-haptic continuum and Piaget's concrete-formal continuum. Three instruments were administered--a questionnaire, the Successive Perception Test I (Gibson) which identified an individual's location on the visual-haptic continuum, and the…

Forty-two volunteer subjects, mostly young adults, participated in developing a methodology for studying cognitive processes and cerebral lateral functions in relation to individual cognitive styles and age. Four test batteries were developed and refined in this study: the adult cognitive, the adult electroencephalogram (EEG), the children's…

In 1986, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, with the assistance of a national task force, published the NASSP Learning Style Profile (LSP) for diagnosis of the cognitive styles, perceptual response tendencies, and instructional preferences of middle level and senior high school students. This monograph offers a short course…

This study investigates the preference and ability components of cognitive style as measured by a verbal test for fifth-grade children. Performances from an intellectual ability test, a pictorial cognitive style test, and school achievement tests were included as construct validity variables. The results supported conclusions drawn by Robinson and…

Sex differences on Perry's stages of epistemological development were investigated in a study of 100 freshmen (50 men and 50 women) at a large midwestern university. A semi-structured interview probed six domains related to Perry's theory, including the role of the learner, instructor, and peers in the learning situation, the question of…

Reports results of procedures directed at isolating and identifying students' difficulties in comprehending the concepts involved in lessons about gas exchange and respiration. Indicates that pupils (n=137) had deficient understanding of prerequisite concepts and tended to operate at the concrete operational level, whereas the highly abstract…

A self-report scale was constructed and validated that measures individual differences in objectivism--the tendency to base one's judgments and beliefs upon empirical information and rational considerations. Validity data showed that, compared to people who score low on the Objectivism Scale, highly objective individuals enjoy thinking more, rely…

Performance of 162 children, ages five to seven, on concept formation and perception tests indicated that enforced delay in responding minimally affected all reflective subjects and impulsive boys; impulsive girls improved. (Available in microfiche from: Carfax Publishing Company, Haddon House, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxford 0X9 8JZ, England.) (CP)