This research is concerned with human problem-solving behavior that involves inductive reasoning or concept formation when that behavior is being assisted by certain computer and display aids (called symbol manipulation functions). Human subjects use a variety of systematic operations when they are solving such problems. In order to analyze…

Investigated, within a Piagetian framework, was the degree of abstract preferences exhibited by five different grade levels of science students as they completed eighteen problem solving tasks. Three hundred twenty-nine randomly selected students from five grade levels, ranging from eighth grade to college seniors, were given the Shipley Test of…

This paper describes and evaluates a new abstract form of the Purdue Elementary Problem-Solving Inventory. The new test parallels a shortened form of the original Inventory, but presents problems verbally rather than through slides. Both forms were given to advantaged and disadvantaged second- and fourth-graders. For the total sample, the slide…

Provides two exercises in abstract problem solving. Intended to parallel a physicist's approach to the solution of a law of nature, the activities are open ended without definite answers. (CP)

Reports three experiments with kindergartners and first graders which used one-trial multidimensional reasoning tasks like those of Toppino (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, v30, p496-512, 1980). Feedback information and preliminary experience with simple forms of the task produced high performance levels, and verbal labeling in the…

Three experiments using college students examine the processes involved in deductive reasoning. Effects of training in classroom and laboratory situations confirmed the authors' hypothesis that people use pragmatic reasoning schemas rather than syntactics rules of logic for problem solving. Training materials used in experiments 1 and 3 are…

This paper reports on methods of students' justifications of their solution to a problem in the area of combinatorics. From the analysis of the problem solving of 150 students in a variety of settings from high-school to graduate study, four major forms of reasoning evolved: (1) Justification by Cases, (2) Inductive Argument, (3) Elimination…

This book shows students how to increase their power to analyze problems and comprehend what they read. First it outlines and illustrates methods that good problem solvers use in attacking complex ideas, then it provides practice in applying these methods to a variety of comprehension and reasoning questions. The "Whimbey Method" of teaching…

Report offers several working definitions of the process of critical thinking, then describes several ERIC documents dealing with ways of teaching critical thinking in general on the secondary level, and finally points to some aspects of learning about literature and language that involve critical thinking skills. (Author)

Describes a course module designed to instruct beginning engineering students at the University of New Mexico in problem-solving methodology as suggested by Polya (understand, plan, carry out, look back). (SK)

Because assessment of creative potential is important in the selection of leaders, it is recommended that the critical activities of any occupational assignment should be examined in connection with the whole range of abilities of the structure-of-intellect model. (CM)

Textbooks and teaching methods for adult basic education courses are frequently inappropriate for the cognitive ability level of the students. The assumption that these students have formal reasoning skills is often erroneous. (JD)

A developmental study of elementary school children's use of rule v computation in solving spacial perspective-taking problems. (CM)

This study found that 33 children (ages 7-16) with learning disabilities were deficient in their inferential skills compared to normally achieving children but were not deficient in the metacognitive skill of paying attention to errors. Results also indicated that LD children do not constitute a homogeneous group. (JDD)