Much research has been conducted to document and sometimes to provide proximate explanations (e.g., Confucianism vs. Western philosophy) for East-West cultural differences. The ultimate evolutionary mechanisms underlying these cross-cultural differences have not been addressed. We propose in this review that East-West cultural differences (e.g.,…

Caution is urged in applying the normative-descriptive distinction to selection models, because ambiguities arise when the distinction is actually carried out (AA 529 125). A multidimensional structure may be needed to account for strategy, and the relationship between strategy and such nontask variables as intelligence is needed to clarify the…

A specific aspect of learning strategy (the extent to which 14 students developed their understanding on a broad or narrow front) was examined. Results support hypotheses predicting positive relationships between a broad strategy in learning, wide attention deployment, a flexible approach to problem-solving and cognitive complexity. Relationships…

A study designed to serve as an initial step in building a theory of computer literacy was conducted to provide new information concerning how humans think about calculators and to determine how individual differences in students' intuitions affect their understanding and use of the calculator. Thirty-three expert and 33 novice calculator users…

In positively assessing Johnson (1978) (AA 529 124), this research proposes that the basic purpose of normative models of selection strategies is the development of continuous quantitative measures of problem-solving efficiency, while descriptive models determine degree of correspondence between formal normative models and actual behavior.…

Describes a study that examined whether statistically significant differences existed among performance levels of college students in a beginning media writing class when compared according to cognitive style and learning style subgroups. Results are reported for five mass media formats--broadcast news, television copywriting, documentary,…

The purpose of this study was to further investigate performance differences between reflective and impulsive subjects on a recognition memory task. Other researchers have proposed that these differences are based on visual analysis and that they are relatively independent of verbal processes. To test this contention, a sentence recognition task…

Taking as the point of departure the landmark work, "A Study of Thinking" (Bruner et al. 1956), this research attempts an analysis of the notion of problem-solving strategy, suggests criteria that may be employed to validate the claim that a certain type of behavior is a strategy, and illustrates the use of the criteria. (Author/RK)

Research findings concerning some of the basic features of the learning process are discussed, together with their practical applications to the training process. The article proposes a three-stage framework for understanding the learning process: attract attention, maintain attention, and facilitate effective coding and storing of new material.…

Recent research in the area of individual differences in learning and memory is reviewed from a cognitive perspective. Using the two-state model of memory as a framework, individual variations in attentional, short-term store, and long-term store processes are discussed. (Editor)

This review of the literature on interactive video examines research and evaluation reports in the context of the continuing debate over the effectiveness of media debate and Richard E. Clark's argument that media do not have a substantial impact on learning. The literature is examined from four perspectives: (1) behavioral issues (e.g., whether…

In this report, three theories of transitive inference are compared as they apply to the solution of linear syllogisms: a spatial theory, a linguistic theory, and a new mixed linguistic-spatial theory. Each theory is expressed in terms of an information-processing (flow chart) model and a mathematical model that quantifies the…

Examines the research on affective variables as they relate to language learning, with particular attention to anxiety. (Author/AM)

This review of the concept learning literature indicates that the greater effectiveness of field-independent learners is related to memory efficiency and the ability to conduct combinatorial analysis. Short-term memory and free recall studies suggest factors contributing to the less efficient memory of field-dependent learners. (Editor/SJL)

Under normal instructional circumstances, some youngsters learn programming in BASIC or LOGO better than others. Clinical investigations of novice programmers suggest that this happens in part because different students bring different patterns of learning to the programming context. Many students disengage from the task whenever trouble occurs,…