Students (n=46) were assigned to one of three instructional groups (descriptive, question design, and hypothesis testing) to test the hypothesis that descriptive learning cycles are not sufficient to stimulate students to reason at a formal operational level. Analyses indicated that the hypothesis-testing group exhibited a significant increase on…

A study examined the effects of rationale emotive psychoeducational procedures on aspects of mental health with 22 Australian fourth grade girls and 14 control subjects who received an attention control intervention. Rational emotive education increased perceptions of internal locus of control and rationality but did not reduce trait anxiety.…

A study at Cleveland State University (Ohio) compared the effectiveness of conventional mathematics instruction given to 190 students with an alternative course in mathematical reasoning given to 120 students as preparation for a required course in real analysis. Results show the alternative method effective in raising both pass rate and grades in…

This study examined the problem-solving protocols of 21 students in a grade 11 enriched physics course as well as 3 adult "experts" in physics. Experts and high performing students made more correct metastatements and more references to prior knowledge than did average performing students. (DB)

The soliciting-and-reacting-moves questioning technique used in science classrooms is described. The importance of using both higher-order and lower-level questions during a lesson is discussed. An example of a dialogue between a student and teacher using this technique is included. (KR)

A primary math activity teaches students counting and classifying using a book about a mother and child who tour a farm at midnight. An intermediate math activity teaches logical reasoning through a story problem in which students must use information from a story to figure out an answer. (SM)

Focuses on the significant connection between logic and information retrieval. Introduces the formalisms used in logical models for information retrieval, shows the use of logic to build the models, and presents a brief overview of some of the current logical models in information retrieval. (Author/AEF)

Compares two groups of preschool children to assess the effect of children's counting ability on their ability to reason about numbers. Describes the research design and the set of expected possible outcomes. Reports results in light of these predictions, concluding that counting ability is not necessary for number-relevant operations. (DSK)

Twenty-nine children with learning disabilities (LD) in grades 2 and 4 through 7 were compared with children without LD for their development of proportional structures of thought. Significantly fewer children with LD had constructed second-order logical structures necessary to act on problems using multiplicative and preproportional reasoning.…

Asserts that becoming adept at understanding the logic of subjects, issues, and questions is a competency that, once learned, becomes a foundation for highly skilled and practical teaching and learning. Promotes the model of teaching students to seek the logic of things through the logic of science. (VWC)

This study investigated whether rotating virtual reality (VR) three-dimensional (3D) objects had a positive effect on the ability of 21 deaf and hard-of-hearing children to use inductive processes when dealing with shapes. Results indicated that practice with VR 3D spatial rotations significantly improved inductive thinking when compared with a…

Observes that the demand for values education is generally accompanied by rational skepticism. Argues that critical rationalism does not intend to provide a basis for concrete value education, but to lay a foundation for the mediation of attitudes as the basis for individual decisions about which values to commit to. (DSK)

Explores the role of software tools in geometry problem solving and how these tools, in interaction with activities that embed the goals of teachers and students, mediate the problem solving process. Through analysis of successful student responses, shows how dynamic software tools can not only scaffold the solution process but also help students…

Applies Multiple Intelligence theory to the process of counselor training. Encourages counselor educators to acknowledge that verbal and logical abilities are important, but not sufficient areas of development for counselor training. Concludes that by addressing all of the areas of a student's intelligence, counselor educators can train balanced,…

Describes an informal study that was conducted to determine if students who were taught critical thinking skills improved their course grades. Finds that the experimental group, who were taught critical thinking skills in an introductory psychology course, did significantly better than the control group, who took a humanities course that stressed…