Jean Piaget's belief that children's developmental levels largely determine what they can learn is challenged. Research concerning the existence of cognitive structures in children is critiqued, and problems with administering Piagetian tasks are pointed out. Educators should not restrict children's exposure to learning because, according to…

Examined effects of a self-instruction intervention on the relationship between cognitive level and conceptual tempo among preoperational and concrete operational children. Cognitive level and conceptual tempo were strongly related; preoperational children tended to be classified as impulsive, concrete operational children as reflective.…

Surveys 30 studies involving 104 separate tests of the "similar structure hypothesis" which holds that, when nonorganically impaired retarded and nonretarded persons are similar in developmental level, they are also similar in the processes and concepts by which they reason. (Researchers distinguished between studies that excluded…

A serious gap is seen in the literature about student evaluation of teaching: what constitutes teaching effectiveness and quality education? Some possible conflicts are explored between the student evaluation approach and the goal of developing higher level cognitive skills in college students. (MSE)

Defines and describes the concept of social cognition and its relationship to various psychological positions. Outlines Selman's stage theory of social cognition and the influence of Piaget's theory. Issues of interpersonal understanding are related to concepts of the individual, friendship, peer group and parent-child relations. (JAC)

Evaluated is the Longeot test, a paper and pencil test designed to measure various aspects of formal and concrete operational thought. Information from over 500 subjects (ages 17 to 20) indicated the test to be reliable and classifications from it correlated with classifications mode using Piagetian tasks. (DS)

Explored was the relationship between performance and gender for junior- and senior-high students (N=108) on six Piagetian-type tasks developed to measure infralogical spatial groupings. Results indicated a significant relationship between performance and gender on four tasks, in which males outscored females. Implications for science teaching are…

Holds that problems of implementation have resulted in the failure of large-scale intervention efforts to deal with cognitive deficits. Emphasizes technological, political, and cultural perspectives in innovation. Examines related models and programs in the United States and developing countries and shows that minimal requirements for their…

Discusses an intervention strategy for interpersonal problems in which primary grade students reflect on personal experiences and dilemma stories to increase social cognitive skills. Two first grade classes participated in an experiment applying this intervention method. Findings showed that students' moral judgement, problem-solving skills,…

Argues that concepts of literacy develop gradually and that in a natural language environment, saturated with good stories, meaningful conversation, and abundant writing materials, the process can begin even before a child goes to school. (FL)

Suggests that the impact of career events is cognitively mediated. Proposes cognitive treatments of career concerns that are derived from cognitive developmental theories and cognitive/behavioral models of counseling and therapy. Additionally, the issues of cognitive career assessment and research are discussed. (Author)

Presented is an experiment investigating children's awareness of regularities in physical phenomena and their capacity for expressing these regularities. Hypothesized and confirmed is that children can use statements with the form and purpose of a physical law. Cartoons related to Archimedes' principle (and connected gravitation and fluid…

Student advising at the University without Walls at the University of Minnesota focuses on developing cognitive skills outlined in Bloom's taxonomy by overseeing student programs and progress through graduation and by early assessment of student skills. Each phase of student advising incorporates one or more specific cognitive skill. (MSE)

Demonstrates that the manner in which fourth-grade students develop points of view in classroom writing is a function of the verbal interaction patterns these children maintain with their teachers. (HOD)

Describes and discusses the rule-assessment approach, a new research strategy for studying developmental sequences in children's acquisition of knowledge. Four experiments were conducted to illustrate the utility of this approach across a variety of concepts and a wide range of ages (three-year-olds to college students). (Author/CM)