Describes the Lock Box, a large rectangular container with ten latched doors each housing a different toy, which is designed to assess the spontaneous approaches of retarded children mental ages 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 to a problematic situation in which the subject is given abundant choice and scant structure. (CM)

A review of the representative research and theoretical literature on right hemisphere processes and psychophysiological models regarding the functional organization of the brain is presented. (Author)

Cognitive Flexibility (availability in the individual's repertoire of various strategies and ability to select those most effective to the required task) is suggested as an important individual-difference variable. Some methodological problems in the assessment of cognitive flexibility as related to human memory are discussed. (Editor/SJL)

Explores the question of the existence and usefulness of supposed general functions of the mind and the extent to which such functions might be educable. Focuses on the role of education, science education for general development in particular. Contains 99 references. (JRH)

Reviews assumptions about learners, learning, and the learning environment in an information age economy. Argues that one approach to encourage literacy and lifelong learning is to bring students' natural learning abilities (especially problem solving) into the school environment. (RS)

Investigated interaction styles and success at problem solving by students of English as a Second Language. The most interesting outcome of this study was the finding that when passive learners were paired with active ones, these pairs were as effective as dyads made up of only active ones. (26 references) (Author/VWL)

The Group Embedded Figures Test and a teaching style inventory administered to 25 preservice agriculture teachers showed (1) field-independent learners achieved higher scores in methods courses; (2) those preferring more sensitive teaching styles achieved higher microteaching scores; (3) preference for the inclusion teaching style did not…

In a study of children's use of encoding and strategy knowledge in domains in which problem-specific experience is lacking, children were tested for serial recall. Seven- and nine-year olds encoded contiguity relations, and encoding was related to strategy choices. Less consistent encoding of five-year olds did not influence strategy choices. (BC)

Completion of the Group Embedded Figures Test by 237 secondary marketing education students determined that most students, particularly females, had only low to moderate restructuring skills, needed for complex cognitive tasks; and most had career goals congruent with their attitudes and social skills but not their cognitive aptitude for…

Examined utility of cognitive variables (pessimism, perceived and actual problem-solving ability, polarized thinking, self-negativity, construct system constriction and differentiation) as predictors of suicide risk among 79 hospitalized psychiatric patients. Results indicated that hopelessness, self-negativity, and poor problem-solving…

Metaphors are guiding images that influence one's approach to problem solving. Experiential learning is a process of metaphor change; the task of educators is to facilitate development of new metaphors that generate new potential when old metaphors don't work. Discusses stages of metaphor development, creating an open learning space, and…

Investigated problem-solving methods used by 3 sixth-graders working on a variety of mathematics problems over the school year. Found that the students used different strategies: one used visual strategies, one a more verbal approach, and the third a combination of the two. Over time, all three moved toward more nonvisual, verbal/analytic forms of…

High school agriculture students were taught using either a problem-solving (n=60) or subject-matter (n=52) approach. There were no differences in short- or long-term retention using either method across different learning styles. A moderate correlation was found between field independence and higher normal curve equivalent scores. (SK)

Given the psychometric limitations of existing measures of Kolb's experiential learning model (ELM), two new scales of learning styles have been developed. The validity of these scales has been supported in samples of undergraduate and MBA students in the USA. This paper provides evidence of some psychometric properties of scores yielded by these…

Mathematical problem solving has been the focus of much concern. This study investigated the relationship of various cognitive factors, attributions, and gender to the solution of mathematics problems by 100 high school seniors. The independent variables examined in this study included: (1) mathematics knowledge as measured by a score on the…