This paper is the introduction to an inquiry into the relationship of post-structural reader theories to cognitive theories in the study of educational media. Basic concepts in reader and cognitive theories are defined, including the notions of "meaning" and "learners." Similarities and differences in the theories are…

Beginning students of English as a second language want to have a natural use of the language to get things done, express thoughts, and get information. Most English learners have to invent an interlanguage to express time, because most language courses focus only on the present tense at first. A cyclical approach to grammar instruction allows the…

In an experiment using a conditional logic task, subjects were given a set of cards defining a particular conditional relationship. The subjects were required to determine the rule and predict the outcomes of the rule. Rule structure was varied by providing subjects with either a suggested rule, a partial rule, or no rule for each set of cards.…

The focus of research on cognitive processes has shifted toward an examination of the relationship between memory and interindividual differences of personality. A review of the research on two such personality traits (i.e., locus of control and field dependence-independence) shows that studies of locus of control as a factor in learning and…

An approach to developing materials and activities based on learners' individual needs begins with administration of the Learning Style Inventory, an instrument that identifies 32 factors related to student learning in four stimuli groups: environmental, emotional, sociological, and physical. With the printout of each student's learning style…

An irrelevant auditory probe procedure was employed to evoke brain event-related potentials (ERPs) in 56 right-handed Caucasian males while they learned concepts presented to them in study booklets. A mastery test was administered to assess concept acquisition. Subjects were divided into two groups according to whether or not their achievement…

Eleven kindergarten children, nine of whom had been identified at risk, were administered tasks involving word and sentence reading with and without pictures, writing of words and a sentence, print awareness, and book handling skills. Results suggested that children expect words to be a label for pictures, that articles and prepositions are not…

Children's ability to learn aspects of their language in the absence of supportive evidence is discussed. Specifically, the learnability of null subjects in languages in which they appear is examined when indirect negative evidence is present. It is concluded that parameters such as the null subject parameter may not generate languages, strictly…

Two major areas of educational research are addressed in this book. The first explores recent theories and findings on the cognitive aspects of education. The second focuses upon research that examines education as a social institution. The following articles are presented: (1) "The History of Literacy and the History of Readers" (Carl F.…

Several educational philosopers address concepts of educational adequacy that extend far beyond objective measurements of achievement or competencies. The author of this essay contrasts the European concept of education as an initiation into a world of understanding and imagination with the American tradition of education as serving social and…

Research is reviewed on epilepsy and findings summarized in terms of intelligence, relationship between etiology and intelligence, seizure frequency, age of onset, duration, premorbid intelligence, and specific psychological defects, electroencephalography (EEG) and IQ, and learning. Among findings noted are that the widespread belief among…

What children do in play is simultaneously influenced by the properties of the play object and the skills of the child. Properties of objects lend themselves to re-engagement in investigative play or support for shared action. Repeated play with particular objects increases the number of actions possible with these objects. The process of…

Discusses IPR as a method of counselor training in which a critique is given immediately after an interview between the counselor and client by a "recaller" or "interrogator". Evaluation is subtlely executed through a review of a videotape of the training session. (PC)

This article discusses the importance of teachers integrating new educational research into their classroom instruction. The mandatory grade 10 History course in Ontario is used as an example of how such integration leads to improved teacher instruction and therefore student learning.

Discussed Hawaii's efforts to provide for handicapped students through stimulation by the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. (RK)