This research furthers our understanding of the relationship between an organismic factor, "cognitive style," and performance on concept learning and information processing tasks. These results, obtained from students in grades six, eight, and 10, indicate that not only do "high analytical" type students perform better on this…

A computer-based curricular package was developed to teach elementary school students to solve arithmetic word problems and to teach problem solving skills applicable to situations not involving word problems. An information processing model for solving word problems was used to sequence the problems. Pilot test results with five students…

Most current information processing theories of cognition and memory share one common feature: the structure (state-space) of memory is fixed and retrieval from memory involves searching through that structure. Learning, where it is treated at all, involves transforming one such structure into another. This form of representation is questioned and…

A synthesis was performed of research on competencies essential for successful performance in the "office of the future" and whether such competencies differ from those required for success in the "office of the past." Results suggest that the major competencies required in office positions today are similar to those required in the past. (CT)

"A new sort of concept attainment or decoding-encoding experimental paradigm based on the model is developed and an experiment on 5-, 7-, and 9-year-olds is reported. (Author)

Describes the difference between mediation and "mediatisation." Suggests the need for a paradigm shift away from the computational model of knowledge as pure information processing and task-centered problem solving to a more contextualist, sociointeractional, constructivist, user-centered model of cognition. (Author/AEF)

This set of papers was originally developed for a conference on Issues and Directions in Mathematics Problem Solving Research held at Indiana University in May 1981. The purpose is to contribute to the clear formulation of the key issues in mathematical problem-solving research by presenting the ideas of actively involved researchers. An…

This paper discusses the theoretical problem of matching and abstraction of concepts as the processes occur in human minds, and the structures used to represent these processes for use in automated, knowledge based systems. A basic premise of the paper is that hierarchies play a crucial role in structuring knowledge and in solving problems. Data…

Sixteen investigations using 32 third graders, 286 fourth graders, 183 fifth graders, and 343 sixth graders, were undertaken to determine table-using proficiencies. The data indicate that: (1) upper elementary students are able to retrieve information accurately and quickly from noncomplex numerical tables over a wide range of levels of tabular…

The goal of the present project was to identify the types of knowledge necessary and useful for competent troubleshooting/debugging and to examine how new approaches to formal instruction might influence the attainment of competence by students. The research focused on the role of general strategies in troubleshooting/debugging, and how they might…

This paper reports an experiment designed to test theoretical relations among fast problem solving, more complex and slower problem solving, and research concerning fundamental memory processes. Using a cathode ray tube, subjects were presented with propositions of the form "Y is in list X" which they memorized. In later testing they were asked to…

A Word Problem Program was set up to teach elementary school students how to solve arithmetic word problems and to teach some problem solving skills applicable to nonword problems. All instruction is accomplished through a computer program. Goals of the program are described along with three basic instructional decisions and the reasons for them,…

In order to study the influence of the information-processing strategy of an adult model on the subsequent strategy of children, 216 grade school children solved modified twenty-questions problems. A repeated-measures factorial design was used with the following variables: (1) information-processing of model (hypothesis scanning, constraint…

This report presents research concerned with two information-processing constructs, "cognitive strategies" and "cognitive styles." Study one analyzes thinking-aloud protocols obtained from a female undergraduate doing anagram problems. Several major strategies are described, along with basic "Operators" subject used to construct and modify…