This paper discusses some means by which one might answer the question of "What makes problem solving hard?" In order to facilitate the investigations required to answer this question, a model of problem solving is needed. From some simulated solutions to a physics problem, several problem solving processes used by students are…

The effect of humor on retention of lecture material was studied with 100 undergraduate students at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Within each class, students were divided into four equal groups, and four versions of a lecture on language development were presented on videotape by a college faculty member. The lectures were…

Investigates the effects of training two components of a dimension-abstracted oddity problem, oddity responding and attention, in a series of three problems. (Author/ED)

Effects of three variables (learner, task, and treatment characteristics) on subject performance in two basic learning paradigms (Visual discrimination or "matching" and paired-associate tasks) were studied. (Author/RC)

An attempt to combine the advantages of group instruction with the advantages of individualized instruction is described. The rationale, procedure, and method are discussed in turn. Test results indicated that students learn at least as well by this combined method. Student opinion was generally favorable. (LS)

The effects of teacher-student life style and student life style-learning structure congruences on student's attitudes toward the teacher and class are explored. (MLP)

Seven Mexican-American, Asian, American Indian, and Black specialists in the fields of special education, sociology, psychology, and linguistics responeded to questions on intercultural education. (LC)

This paper offers a detailed review of the literature concerning sex differences in the learning of mathematics. It identifies cognitive, affective and educational variables which have been either shown or hypothesized to contribute to sex-related differences in mathematics learning. The author analyzes each study in detail. One important finding…

Results support a model emphasizing the influence of histories of successful academic achievement on personality characteristics. Findings suggest that rewards for academic achievement provided by the home are related to both high academic achievement and positive personality characteristics. (Author/BJG)

Multi-shaped blocks can be used to help young children develop many mathematical concepts and abilities. Several suggestions for using these blocks to create problem situations through which children develop concepts are offered. (SD)

Presented are abstracts for most of the papers presented at the 54th annual conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), held at Grossinger's in the Catskills, April 5-8, 1981. Papers relate to learning in museums, classroom behavior, cognitive development, male-female differences, diagnostic testing, research…

THE RESPONSES OF EDUCABLE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AND INTELLECTUALLY NORMAL CHILDREN OF SIMILAR MENTAL AGES TO TASKS INVOLVING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF LEARNING AND TRANSFER OF THAT LEARNING WERE STUDIED. THE MAJOR OBJECTIVE WAS TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT DIFFERENCES IN ACHIEVEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE TEST PERFORMANCES BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS TESTED ARE…