This dissertation describes an experiment to investigate how learners with different levels of background in computer science learn core concepts of computer science, in particular, algorithms. We designed a study to focus on cognitive task analysis for eliciting the empirical mental elements of learning two graph algorithms. Cognitive workload…

Specific language impairment (SLI) comprises impairments in receptive and/or expressive language. Aim of this study was to evaluate a screening for SLI. 61 children with SLI (SLI-children, age-range 4-6 years) and 61 matched typically developing controls were tested for receptive language ability (Token Test-TT) and for intelligence (Wechsler…

This article presents evidence of the reliability and validity of a new paper-and-pencil test of proportional reasoning, Paper-and-Pencil Balance Beam Test. A Total of 627 individuals, aged 8-47, participated in the 3 studies discussed. Results support previous research which correlates performance on proportional reasoning problems with…

THE BROAD PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO TEST EMPIRICALLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE HANDBOOK "TAXONOMY OF EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES 1--COGNITIVE DOMAIN." IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT FOUR FORMS OF A TAXONOMY-TYPE TEST SINCE NONE WAS AVAILABLE. THE PHENOMENA WHICH ARE CLASSIFIED BY THE "TAXONOMY" ARE THE RESPONSES (BEHAVIORS) WHICH…

The present study was designed to (1) investigate the changes in the structure and organization of mental abilities during childhood and adolescence of 514 students as sampled by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (5 to 15 years) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (16 to 18 Years) and (2) interpret, and possibly modify, the…

This article is a commentary for the special issue on the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a community tool to assess children's school readiness and developmental outcomes at a group level. The EDI is administered by kindergarten teachers, who assess their kindergarten students on 5 developmental domains: physical health and well-being, social…

Discrepancies between the mental age (MA) scores and the mean performance of chronological age (CA) groups in the latest revision of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale are noted. A table is presented for converting published Stanford-Binet MA scores into MA scores that are congruent with the above definition. (Author)

This study was undertaken to determine reliability and validity estimates for a newly developed preschool inventory of cognitive functioning which provides many advantages over traditionally utilized measures. A predominantly pictorial stimulus-psychomotor response set was the format for the test. The test consisted of a series of 61 items divided…

Factor analysis was used to test the hypothesis that College Level Examination Program (CLEP) General Examinations, when administered to students who have completed 2 years of college, do not measure anything different from that measured by the traditional battery of pre-college aptitude examinations. The CLEP examinations were taken in the fall…

The study investigated possible differences between 113 children identified as emotionally handicapped and 368 normal children with regard to cognitive complexity (ability to differentiate among behavioral dimensions in the social environment). (Author/SB)

This study evaluated the Bielefeld Developmental Test for Blind Infants and Preschoolers by comparing cognitive performance of blind and sighted children (ages three and four). Results indicated that even this test (with "blind-neutral" items) did not permit a fair comparative assessment, though it did prove suitable for within-group…

Eighty unimpaired adults took the iconic-symbolic (I-S) subtest of the Muma Assessment Program under traditional protocols and revised instructions like those used in classic studies of classification ability. Only 18 functioned at the symbolic level as defined by the protocols; revised instructions more frequently evoked the expected symbolic…

Examined and compared the validity of Friedman's Developmental Level (DL) and Exner's Developmental Quality (DQ) as measures of cognitive development in children (N=134). Results supported the convergent and discriminant validity of both DL and DQ. The DL and DQ were most strongly related to different types of cognitive ability. (JAC)

Researchers have attempted to develop paper and pencil Piagetian tests that yield results equivalent to manipulative Piagetian tasks and that can be administered in significantly less time. This study is an attempt to partially replicate and extend the findings of research by Paul Ankeny and Lyle Joyce who found significant positive correlations…

A paper-and-pencil test of seven of Inhelder and Piaget's formal operational schemes was developed. Multitrait-multimethod cross-validation procedures indicated that the objective test is a valid and reliable measure. It has the advantage of use in a large group setting without the need for trained clinical interviewers. (Author/PN)