Focuses on the relationship between debate training and critical thinking ability, and examines whether Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) debaters, National Debate Tournament (NDT) debaters, and nondebaters differ significantly on the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal. Indicates no significant difference between NDT debaters and…

Explores the procedure of dropping the low rank/low rating that is used at some national forensic tournaments and finds that a significantly altered pool of contestants for elimination rounds is not produced. (MM)

Assesses whether a contestant's seed in an elimination round is a good indicator of the contestant's finish in that particular round, and finds limited support for concluding that seeding is a good indicator of final placement. (MM)

Argues that the unconscious mind plays a central role in argumentation. Discusses the nature of the unconscious and analyzes invention, focusing on rules theory. Claims that argument reception is controlled by the unconscious. Identifies a series of basic issues needing investigation. (JD)

Addresses charges that have been raised against using the study counterplan in academic debate and in real-world decision making. Concludes that accumulating information enhances the basis of decision making, a basis that is utilized and ensured through the counterplan. (PD)

Includes transcript, editorial analysis, and judges' critiques of the final debate between students from the University of Iowa and Harvard University. (PD)

Discusses two points in response to the objections raised in the previous essay: (1) higher standards for argument are not justified and could create problems and (2) theoretical issues can and should be debated in individual debate rounds. (PD)

The author, a Fulbright Lecturer at Osaka University, discusses debate in Japan and the Japanese value system with its deference to age and authority. (PD)

This paper considers the ongoing debate between two organizations (National Association of Scholars and Teachers for a Democratic Culture) in higher education. The rhetorical positions of each side resemble those of the "cold war" between the United States and the Soviet Union of the 1950s and 1960s where each side created a mirror image…

This paper examines the potential of sociohistorical theory for the study of academic debate. The essay describes sociohistorical theory (noting that it is most often attributed to the work of Lev Vygotsky and that contemporary scholars influenced by it include Jerome Bruner and James Wertsch), the relationship between reason and emotion from a…

Criticizes certain practices observed in academic debates which the author believes are produced by acceptance of the hypothesis-testing paradigm. (PD)

Analyzed the consistency of debate judges' philosophy and ballot statements. Found that their debating philosophies accurately reflect the criteria they use to decide debates. (PD)

The National Education Association (NEA) remains opposed to merit pay plans in their official statements. But at the 1983 convention NEA approved New Business Item D, which leaves room for discussion and speculation whether NEA's stance is softening on the issue. (MD)

Studied the effects of the February 20, 1980, debate involving seven Republican candidates. Results strongly suggest that watching a televised debate early in the presidential primary season can increase respondents' interest in, and knowledge about, the campaign. (PD)

Responds to Rowland's article, (CS 705 841). Contends that policy systems analysis emerges as the only acceptable paradigm for competitive debate and that it satisfies the criteria for paradigm evaluation. (PD)