In two experiments (N=210) conservers, transitional conservers, and nonconservers were directed to lie or pretend to other children that their judgments and explanations of a series of conservation problems were the opposite of what they really were. Nonconservers and transitional subjects in both studies made large and significant gains in…

To show that there are crucial assumptions of the cognitive-developmental approach to moral education made about the nature of moral reasoning which may not be warranted, sixty public school students randomly selected from two middle schools and two high schools, were interviewed on twelve different dilemmas. Transcripts of the interviews,…

Research indicates that classroom controversy facilitates student problem solving, creativity, perspective taking, epistemic curiosity, conceptual conflict, and transition in stages of cognitive and moral reasoning. Thus, creating controversy is an important teaching strategy for increasing learning and intellectual development. Conditions…