The introductory portion of this document reviews the definitions of cognitive style and presents the models of cognitive style developed by James McKenney, Samuel Messick, and Joseph Hill. It also discusses the application of these models to education. The annotated bibliography is designed as a review of selected materials that provide an…

Reviews the current literature concerning prior knowledge in an attempt to clarify problems with the terminology. Identifies the three main problems: lack of definition or vagueness, nominal versus real definitions, and different names/same constructs or same name/different constructs. Includes a conceptual map of prior knowledge terminology. (MJP)