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Shayer, Michael – Research Papers in Education, 1986
The relationship of cognitive development to learning science is considered. Views of thinking from both a psychological and a scientific standpoint are compared in order to shed light on current science teaching practice. Metacognition and problem solving are discussed. (Author/MT)
Descriptors: Abstract Reasoning, Cognitive Development, Cognitive Structures, Metacognition

Gess-Newsome, Julie; Lederman, Norman G. – Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1995
Investigated the nature of biology teachers' global content understandings, and sources and formation of subject matter structures (SMSs). Reports that the initial formation of SMSs was credited to college content courses and modified by the act of teaching. Variables that differentially affected SMS translation included teacher intentions,…
Descriptors: Biology, Classroom Techniques, Cognitive Structures, Course Content

Tsai, Chin-Chung – International Journal of Science Education, 2000
Investigates the effects of Science-Technology-Society instruction on a group of Taiwanese female 10th grade students' cognitive structure outcomes. Examines the role of student scientific epistemological beliefs on such effects. (Author/SAH)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, Epistemology, Females, Foreign Countries

Krieger, Carla R. – Journal of Chemical Education, 1997
Describes the use of Moe's Mall, a locational device designed to be used by learners, as a simple algorithm for solving mole-based exercises efficiently and accurately using dimensional analysis. (DDR)
Descriptors: Algorithms, Chemistry, Cognitive Structures, Educational Practices

Richardson, Daniel R. – Advances in Physiology Education, 1990
Presented are the results of a study of high school and college students concerning their thinking about functions of the human body. It was shown that students' thinking could be positively changed over the short term from teleologic to mechanistic. Sample survey questions are included. (CW)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, College Science, High Schools, Higher Education

Boschhuizen, Rob; Brinkman, Fred G. – Environmental Education Research, 1995
Examines the ideas secondary school students associate with the word "cycles" before instruction. Draws conclusions about the integrative role of this concept in teaching and learning about environmental issues. Possibilities for making use of the concept of cycles in lower and higher secondary environmental education are discussed. (LZ)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, Concept Formation, Environmental Education, High School Students

Regis, Alberto; Albertazzi, Pier Giorgio – Journal of Chemical Education, 1996
Describes the use of concept maps as a metacognitive tool to help chemistry teachers and learners improve teaching and learning. Concept maps were used in response to changes in the conceptions of the nature of scientific knowledge and in how learning occurs. Concept maps are valuable in documenting and exploring the restructuring of conceptual…
Descriptors: Chemistry, Cognitive Structures, Concept Mapping, Constructivism (Learning)

Prain, Vaughan; Hand, Brian – Science Education, 1999
Discusses students' perceptions of using writing as a component of their science learning. Results, collected over four years, are organized to include students' perceptions of writing in science, learning, ownership, purpose, and science. These results are then discussed in terms of students' developing metacognition and epistemologies of…
Descriptors: Cognitive Processes, Cognitive Structures, Epistemology, Foreign Countries

Abrams, Eleanor; Southerland, Sherry; Cummins, Catherine – International Journal of Science Education, 2001
Describes trends in students' explanations of biological change in organisms. Student responses to questions on how graphically depicted phenomena occur were analyzed and most students were unable to offer causal explanations. (Contains 27 references.) (DDR)
Descriptors: Biology, Cognitive Processes, Cognitive Structures, Educational Strategies

Mohapatra, J. K. – Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 1988
Identifies an induced incorrect generalization as a generative cause for the formation of misconception. Analyzes students' protocol of an exploratory learning experiment about the laws of reflection of light. Suggests recommendations for textbook, teaching, and practical work. (Author/YP)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, Concept Formation, Generalization, Misconceptions
Clement, John – 1978
This paper attempts to show that it is possible to analyze a problem solving protocol in which the subject spontaneously generates a series of analogies. The qualitative physics problem given to the subject describes a situation where that which is unfamiliar is often solved by relating it to several analogous situations that are more familiar.…
Descriptors: Analogy, Cognitive Structures, College Science, Higher Education

Clough, Elizabeth Engel; And Others – School Science Review, 1987
Reports on a study designed to examine students' understanding of certain aspects of heat, pressure, and evolution. Results indicated that little change was apparent over the two-year period of the study, with most of the students in the 12 to 14 age range at the same conceptual level as the 14 to 16 year olds. (TW)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, Concept Formation, Evolution, Foreign Countries

Trumper, Ricardo – Research in Science and Technological Education, 1997
Reports on a study that addresses the implications of instructional strategies that are used to create cognitive disequilibrations to achieve conceptual change. Discusses several difficulties in the application of such conceptual change strategies. Contains 31 references. (DDR)
Descriptors: Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Structures, Concept Formation, Conflict

Wheeler, Alan E.; Hill, Doug – Science Teacher, 1990
Described is the relative complexity of commonly used diagrams in science instruction. Student interpretations of diagrams, implications for science instruction and the prevention of science misconceptions is discussed. (CW)
Descriptors: Cognitive Structures, Concept Formation, Diagrams, Illustrations
Collins, Angelo – 1986
The categories and applications of strategic knowledge as these relate to problem solving in the area of transmission genetics are examined in this research study. The role of computer simulations in helping students acquire the strategic knowledge necessary to solve realistic transmission genetics problems was emphasized. The Genetics…
Descriptors: Biology, Cognitive Structures, Computer Assisted Instruction, Genetics