It is suggested that instructional research in visual literacy focus on the study of the symbolic codes of pictorial media. (Author/STS)

Discusses the emergence and early development of symbolic functioning in children engaged in nonverbal, expressive activities. Concludes that symbolic functioning must be considered in the affective as well as cognitive sphere of development. Implications for educational practice and questions for further research are presented. (DP)

Visual literacy refers to a group of vision-competencies a human being can develop by seeing, and at the same time having and integrating other sensory experiences. (Author)

Results of two experiments support the view that logical development can occur when there is no direct internalization of a societal language and that deaf adolescents are capable of propositional thought despite their language deficiency. (Author/WY)

This essay focuses on the process of learning, discussing television viewing and written language in terms of discursive (words) and nondiscursive (art forms) symbolism. Libraries' use of these symbolic forms is also discussed. (EJS)

Explores the role of symbolic play in the cognitive and psychic development of the normal child and describes the autistic child. Reviews a model treatment program for autism developed at the City College of New York, discussing the therapeutic role of symbolic play in that model. (Author/MJL)

Finds that (1) playfulness is a trait related to divergent, creative thinking; (2) allowing young children to play with objects can lead to increased performance on problem solving and divergent thinking tasks involving the same or similar objects; and (3) play training leads to short term gains in young children's cognitive performance.…

An approach to cognitive development which builds upon Piagetian assumptions and methods but which takes into account specific characteristics of diverse symbol systems and media is outlined. Such an approach may account for several phenomena left unexplained by Piaget, integrate diverse strands of research, and suggest promising lines of…

An experimental, intervention group of 4 children with moderate mental retardation received 10 therapy sessions focused on symbolic play development. Compared to a nonintervention group, the experimental children, aged 5-10, demonstrated increased amounts of symbolic play as well as higher levels of symbolism in their play behavior. (Author/JDD)

Two studies with 28 Boston College undergraduates tested the hypothesis that people who report a poor sense of direction (SOD) have an impaired ability to use spatial information in an abstract or symbolic way. The hypothesis was not supported. Poor SOD correlates to a mental egocentrism in self-to-environmental-object relations. (TJH)

Two experiments examined children's ability to understand and produce graphic symbols for social communication. Found that 2-year-olds did not effectively produce symbols or use an experimenter's symbols. Three- and 4-year-olds improved their symbols after use in social communication and performed above chance with the experimenter's symbol;…