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…

Proposes an approach to evaluation that counters negative bias, i.e., optimistic evaluation research. Procedures and advantages of this approach are discussed. (RAO)

This paper attempts to show that the significant difference between the enthymeme and the dialectic syllogism rests on the similarity of purpose of both dialectic and rhetoric, and on the differences in the respondents to which they address themselves. To support this thesis, the author reviews several contemporary approaches which have dealt with…

This study is concerned with the way teachers and administrators work together in groups to solve problems. More specifically, it examines the orientation of leaders and the manner in which they react to inputs from subordinates in a group problemsolving setting and the subsequent influences of these reactions on the generation of additional…

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…

Gathers evidence through the TRADE project at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale indicating that active support of pre-service teachers by university and public school personnel results in increased instructional effectiveness. (Editor/RK)

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.…

Describes a study undertaken to determine why citizens who endorse democratic procedural norms in the abstract are unable to apply these norms to unpopular groups or actions. Findings indicated that principled thinkers surpass nonprincipled thinkers in applying democratic principles and that educators should work to facilitate development of civic…

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)

Research on levels of questioning and their effects on learning is reviewed. It is shown that higher level questions facilitate reproductive and productive knowledge, but the reasons why are not clearly understood. An information processing model which accounts for question level effects is discussed. (MH)