Since its first notable appearance in the "Second Handbook of Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning," the phrase productive struggle has garnered support from a few, yet very influential, educational researchers. However, since the phrase was popularized by Hiroko Warshauer in 2011, examinations of the productive struggle have…

The first purposes of this project were to develop a new measure of Creative Problem-Solving (Improving Research Testing) and to develop new scoring criteria for the College Situations Problems. In addition, evidence concerning the reliability and validity of nine new variables derived from these two measures was examined. Adequate levels of…

The results of this study, investigating cross sex-typing as a possible correlate of creative thought and productive thinking, indicated that creative performance was associated with high masculine and low feminine interests. These findings support the idea that creativity and problem solving development are related to sex-role orientation.…

Decisionmaking in organizations is examined from the perspective of open systems organization theory. Employing this perspective, this paper represents a critique of the views held by planners and systems analysts and the conflicting assumptions of their critics. The conclusion reached is that neither the assumptions held by planners, nor those of…

The classroom use of attribute blocks to develop thinking skills is defended in this article. Divergent-productive thinking is identified as an important skill that can be developed by using these blocks. However, teacher commitment and involvement in the program is considered necessary. Suggestions for using these blocks are included. (MA)

This paper provides a thorough description of a method of analyzing and scoring group discussions from a particular point of view. After discussing shortcomings of traditional methods of reporting data from group discussions and problems inherent in the use of paper-and-pencil creativity tests, the author describes a method which was developed as…

Survey feedback and problem solving processes can be applied to increase the effectiveness of task-oriented structural approaches to educational organization development. One such approach involves the superimposition of complementary collective decision structures over the existing authority decision framework of the school. Collective decision…

John Dewey's theory of reflective thought as presented in "How We Think" (1983) was analyzed. Components and relationships in the processes of reflective thought and teaching people to think effectively were identified. Implications of the research are discussed. (Author/RM)

Louis Raths has pointed out the relationship between thinking capability and certain identifiable student behaviors. This article presents eight student behavior patterns that, according to Raths, show evidence of impaired thinking skills. Discusses activities that contribute to growth in thinking and identifies teacher behaviors that inhibit…

A study explored how untutored technology education students used three-dimensional modelling while designing and making a solution to a technological problem. A literature review focused on modelling as a design process skill and its purposes. Ten seventh-grade students (six boys and four girls) were paired into five single-sex dyads. Each dyad…

Investigates the abilities of 36 fifth graders and 30 ninth graders who were selected from 11 schools in Thailand to solve problems involving seven of Piaget's logical operations. These operations are classification, seriation, logical multiplication, compensation, proportional thinking, probability, and correlational thinking. (HM)

Youth were found to be responsive to a survey when asked for solutions to provocatively disruptive situations. The general purpose of this study was to determine whether these expressed solutions have some useful application to the problems of disruption. Description was measured through a situational survey and a self-description form filled out…

Investigates cognitive strategies that Hispanic elementary school students use in critical thinking social studies problems. Describes a survey examining the use of 12 cognitive strategies and the analysis of task completion. Concludes that students need to learn specific cognitive strategies in higher level tasks. (KO)

This report presents a collection of position papers and mission statements and traces the ways in which these papers contributed to an orderly sequence of events that resulted in the choosing of the Laboratory mission. Position papers cover the areas of full education, curriculum, instructional methods, and teacher education. The alternative…

Research and theories by psychologists Jean Piaget, Lawrence Kohlberg, and Robert Selman on problem solving, decision making, moral development, and critical-thinking skills are reviewed. These theories and research are combined with the author's theories to develop an original decision-making model, namely, the socio-scientific model. The model…