A sample of 228 elementary school children in a large eastern city was administered tasks which tested visual perceptions of solid objects, and photographs and drawings of these objects. Results showed that children in grades one, four, and six demonstrate a tendency to perform more efficiently on observation and comparison tasks employing solid…

Describes science activities used in an eighth grade class such as metric measurement exercises, classification problems, experiments with batteries and bulbs and a series of activities concerning chemical reactions. (BR)

Pupils' natural questioning attitudes lead them to discovery in a learning center, in contrast to the lecture method, by which information is forced on students regardless of their interests. This paper describes learning experiences built around rocks. Materials placed in a rock center (rocks, stones, pebbles, magnifying glasses hammers, and…

Style is teachable and learnable, but literary models should not be introduced for imitation until the basic writer has already developed some fluency in writing; then literature can provide students with examples of experiences that they can internalize, store away, and draw upon in their own writing. A brainstorming exercise, "the messy…

This review considers parents' ability to control their children's consumption of heavily advertised, low-nutrition foods and children's ability to control their own consumption of these foods. In particular, research on television advertising's effect on children and children's development of the ability to delay gratification and resist…

Only recently have imitation researchers turned their attention to the effects on the model of being imitated by observers. This report outlines and reviews the findings of research in the developing paradigms. Four paradigms into the effects of being imitated are examined briefly: (1) operant strengthening paradigm; (2) classical conditioning…

This study tests the hypothesis that children who viewed videotaped aggression would imitate aggressive behaviors more frequently than would children who were not exposed to aggressive displays. A cognitive factor, reinforcement value, was also hypothesized to be a significant variable in the behavior of the children. Prior to treatment, subjects…

Subjects were 138 inmates from the pre-release unit of a Southwestern prison system, randomly divided into three groups of 46 each. Each group viewed a video-taped model delivering a speech. The independent variable had three levels: (1) lecturer attired in a shirt and tie; (2) lecturer attired in a correctional officer's uniform; and (3) model…

The changes which occurred in man's view of the solar system from the time of Ptolemy to that of Galileo are presented. Contained is a brief review of the chain of events which resulted in the acceptance of a heliocentric system. Ptolomy's theory is described and a diagram illustrates the paths of the epicycle of Mars according to his geocentric…

A series of five video-cassettes showing children from ages three to eight years was developed for use in an undergraduate developmental psychology course. Each cassette was viewed on an optional basis, with extra credit toward student's final grade awarded for viewing. Study guides accompanied each cassette. An evaluation of the effectiveness of…

Low (conjunctive), medium (disjunctive), and high (biconditional) level concept attainment problems were used to assess whether high level versus low and/or medium difficulty concept rules yield less positive transfer for observers than models. Direct learning and transfer of models was compared with vicarious learning and transfer of observers.…

The present study investigated the potential of modeling or observational learning in resocializing asocial psychiatric patients. Patients received one of three treatments: modeling, instructions, or attention. The effects of the treatment indicated that the modeling and instruction groups were of equal impact and superior to the attention group.…

To reach unmotivated vocational students, the author suggests locating credible role models from recent graduates and developing a "graduate of the week" bulletin board display or notebook for materials about the graduates and their jobs. (MF)

This research attempts to develop methods which teachers can use now in dealing with disturbances in the classroom, and to investigate the efficiency of these methods in decreasing the disturbances in working conditions. Develops the idea that teachers should be able to use positive means in dealing with disruptive behavior by students. (Author/RK)