Children personally construct explanations of natural phenomena, some of which differ from currently accepted scientific explanations. The replacement of personal explanations with scientific explanations, as well as the development of concrete, formal, and post-formal reasoning patterns, requires self-regulation in which alternative explanations…

This study compared the relationships of self-efficacy and reasoning ability to achievement in introductory college biology. Based on the hypothesis that developing formal and postformal reasoning ability is a primary factor influencing self-efficacy, a significant positive correlation was predicted between reasoning ability and degree of…

Suggests that students who reason with only concrete thinking patterns may become formal thinkers through the use of the following instructional pattern: (1) the introduction of an undifferentiated whole, (2) differentiation of the whole through concrete experiences, (3) invention of symbolic notation, (4) application of concepts which lead to…

Describes an investigation undertaken to evaluate whether or not the Purdue experimental program, through its concrete curricular materials and inquiry-oriented procedures, had been successful in promoting formal reasoning abilities in its students. Results indicated that concrete curricular materials and problems can promote the development of…

Showed that Piagetian measures of formal reasoning ability are significantly related to achievement, aptitude, and knowledge of the processes of science in a sample of college freshman and sophomore elementary education majors. (MLH)

Presents the results of two Piagetian conservation tasks administered to high school students. It was found that not many were at the formal operations level. Similar evidence is presented for college students. Concludes that development of formal thought must be a focus of all teachers. (DF)

Presents a descriptive analogy comparing Piaget's theory of intellectual development to the development of athletic abilities in order to provide insight into Piagetian theory. (SL)

Extends prior theory and research by postulating the existence of an intermediate class of concepts called 'hypothetical'. Investigates the hypothesis that three kinds of scientific concepts exist by constructing and administering a test on concepts introduced in a college biology course. Supports the hypothesis that intellectual development…

Three Piagetian tests of formal reasoning were administered to 65 high school biology students after half of this group had been exposed to a training session involving the control of variables. Among the results of this study was that the concrete operational students benefited more from the training session than did the formal operational…

Secondary science students were tested, using Piagetian tasks to determine their level of intellectual development, and then tested on scientific concepts classified as concrete or formal. Results showed significant multiple correlations between the scores on the tasks and the subject matter tests. (MLH)

Two Piagetian tests which require manipulation, two conservation tasks, and the Longeot pencil and paper formal reasoning test were administered to 62 high school biology students. For all measures the males' mean level was higher than that of the females. (MLH)

Describes an investigation of 35 secondary school students to examine the relationship among scores on 10 Piagetian tasks used to assess levels of concrete and formal reasoning and problem solving abilities and scores on a standardized reading examination used to measure reading ability. (Author/GS)

One aspect of Jean Piaget's theory of intellectual development is presented and its implications for designing and using homework problems is discussed. Suggested is a way in which homework problems can be used to provide students an opportunity for self-regulation. Also discussed are the deficiencies of typical homework problems and examples are…

The paper presents a discussion of a theory of intelligence which postulates that intelligence develops rather than that intelligence is an innate ability possessed in full measure at birth. Discussion of unresolved issues surrounding their theory is presented. The effect of such a theory on science teaching is discussed. (RE)