Evaluation theory building is described as depending on intellectual tradition and on thorough knowledge of the work that has been done recently in evaluation projects. (CTM)

THE NATURE OF COMPREHENSION IS DEFINED AND CLARIFIED. THE LITERATURE IS SURVEYED TO SHOW THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPTS IS IMPORTANT IN INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITIES. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT CONCEPTS ARE BUILT FROM PERCEPTS, IMAGES, SENSATION, AND MEMORIES, AND THAT THE STEPS WHICH ARE EMPLOYED AS CONCEPTS ARE BUILT AND REFINED AND INCLUDE PERCEIVING,…

The term experience'' has been used by developmental psychologists to refer both to effects of environmental stimulation and to opportunity for the acquisition of a particular behavior. Differing conceptions of the role of experience and their consequences for various issues in the field are discussed. (ST)

Presents a study which assessed preschool children's understanding of "front,""back," and "side" through a variety of tasks. A developmental sequence is defined. (ED)

Kindergarten through fourth graders (N=170) were tested for conservation and then interviewed following the presentation of a story about an elderly woman's death, in an attempt to assess children's understanding of 3 concepts: irrevocability, cessation of bodily processes, and universality. (Author/JMB)

Presents a series of activities intended to enable teachers to determine if children are ready to be introduced to the concept of speed. Reviews Piaget's theories and the empirical evidence on which the sequence is based. (Author/CP)

Suggests that a careful review of the logical and empirical bases for the myth argument indicates that there is little to justify it. The evidence suggests that if one lives long enough, decrements in at least some of the important abilities of intelligence is likely to occur. (Author/AM)

A functional (as opposed to structural) theory of intellectual development is presented and used to generate specific performance models for Piagetian tasks involving the control of variables (cf. Inhelder and Piaget, 1958). On the basis of these models, it is concluded that intelligent, field independent 7- and 8-year-olds should be able to…

Forty randomly selected school children, in four treatment groups of ten each (each comprised of children from the 5, 8, and 12 year age levels) participated in a study to determine the extent to which the capacity for information processed by a child increases in amount with development. Apprehension span (perception and transformation of aural…

This paper discusses intellectual competence and ways in which to define, measure and use this concept in evaluating college effectiveness. Intellectual competence is divided into two categories: academic mastery and intellectual resourcefulness, with evaluation methods suggested for each. (CK)

Program planning for economically deprived children might be improved if behavioral information pertinent to specific subcultural groups were systematically obtained. This prospectus focuses on developing a three-part behavioral model which, when integrated, would identify and profile the nature of disadvantagement in terms idiosyncratic and…

The conference theme was Testing--Then and Now, based upon the assumption that psychometrists should review their origins and look forward to their future. In the area of intelligence testing, Nancy Bayley discussed the research that re-assessed previous concepts of the nature of intellectual growth and decline. Thelma Thurstone discussed new…

This paper reviews current literature concerning the development of children's comprehension of the processes of natural languages and it recommends a new study approach designed to evaluate the joint effects of lexical and syntactic devices on comprehension. It discusses three main kinds of investigations--studies of the comprehension of…