Many mathematics educators have lost sight of the critical importance of the mathematical understanding which underlies procedural competence, in part because we do not have a language to refer to this kind of understanding. The modal way of categorizing mathematical knowledge--conceptual and procedural knowledge--is limited in that: (a) it is…

This paper describes a collaborative action research effort designed to investigate: whether teachers would be able to predetermine their dominant learning and teaching styles; whether teachers' dominant learning and teaching styles would be similar; whether teachers of differing levels or subjects would be concentrated in any one dominant…

In recent years, articles about second language learning strategies and about second language pronunciation instruction have been on the increase. Surprisingly, there appears to be no published study to date that focuses on the relationship between pronunciation and learning strategies. This exploratory study focuses solely on documenting and…

Results of tests done on 48 first-year students entering the Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University suggest that ambiguity may be present in Kolb's learning styles classification system and that further validity studies need to be conducted. (MLW)

Fifth-grade students (n=154) were given the Group Embedded Figures Test. Distribution characteristics and sex differences were examined. Earlier norms developed for adult samples are substantially different from those of a sample of children. The norms presented here provide a guide for identification of field dependence in children. (Author)

Examined couples' and observers' perspectives of marital interaction. Nondistressed (N=10) and distressed (N=6) couples and objective observers (N=10) evaluated couples' interactional behaviors. Spouses' ratings of their partners' behavior were not consistent with observers' ratings of partners' behaviors but were consistent with observers'…

Results of a statistical study of language in 30 infants suggest that two acquisition styles (nominal/pronominal and referential/expressive) are developing in parallel. Only for children heavily emphasizing one strategy can a distinctive style be determined. Results at 20 months were only partially predictive of performance at 28 months. (MSE)

This study investigated the hypothesis that disclosure of cognitive style map information raises the academic achievement of community college students. Experimental and control group mean differences were statistically significant. The size of the absolute difference in percentage points demonstrated a considerable effect on the semester grade.…

Investigated patterns of Bannatyne's recategorized Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (Revised) scores of Tlingit Indian Children (N=146) and investigated the proportions that exhibited a typically "Indian" pattern: Spatial > Sequential > Conceptual and Acquired Knowledge. Older children displayed an Indian pattern, but the…

A personality research study using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator indicates that computer-assisted instruction programs favor introverts, i.e., those learners who can concentrate on details, memorize facts, and stay with a task until it is completed. (JJD)

Field-dependent and independent subjects sorted geometric and verbal material according to category exemplars, forcing active learning, and then recalled the category locations. Field-independent individuals generally performed better on learning and memory tasks with a more active approach. Active versus passive learning styles are discussed.…

Although theorists have recognized the significance of culture in learning, there is a need to develop learning theory that is pluralistic, applicable in a multicultural setting, does not conflict with the established learning patterns of children from different backgrounds, and incorporates research that explains cultural biases. (Author/MJL)

Tested the hypothesis that increased task difficulty elicits more efficient problem-solving strategies from older adults, using "Twenty Questions" tasks with either 64 or 10,000 possible solutions. Although younger adults were more efficient, there was not evidence that task difficulty affected problem-solving for either age group. (Author/JAC)

Based on Fromm's proposed personality theory of the productive and nonproductive use of four character types, studied the productive facet of the four life-style orientations. Analyses of the data from surveys of life and interpersonal relations orientations supported the four orientations suggested by Fromm's theory. (RC)

Examined the relationship between alienation and dogmatism, as measured by shared personality characteristics. Scores from the Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, the Keniston Alienation Scale, the California Test of Personality, and the Omnibus Personality Inventory were obtained for 92 college freshmen. Alienation and dogmatism were positively related…