This study sought to answer the question, Do all students benefit equally from the use of a hypermedia Goal-Based Scenario (GBS)? GBS is a subcategory of anchored instruction. The correlation between the demographic variables and achievement and specific cognitive variables and achievement was explored using a lesson on DNA, and was tested on…

Two experiments examined whether the correlation between advances on theory-of-mind and executive function tasks results from the tasks posing the same executive demands among 3- to 6- year-olds. Findings indicated that performance on the dimensional change card-sorting task (a measure of executive function) was correlated with performance on the…

Experiential learning can be understood as a process in which learners recognize and develop their "action-theory." The aim of outdoor development programs--whether mainstream education, corporate training, or therapy--is to facilitate this process. A "reflection-in-action" approach to facilitation is presented and situated in…

Participants learning first aid at a distance through printed self-paced materials attempted tasks involving near and far transfer. They performed well on near transfer tasks but the controlled cognitive processing involved in far transfer caused recurrence of errors that had been corrected earlier. (SK)

Reviews the concept of rational suicide and compares it with one researcher's list of commonalities of suicide. Claims that the list cannot accommodate rational suicide. Suggests that the list is biased against rational suicide and should be renamed so it cannot be maintained that suicide must be irrational. (RJM)

Reports research designed to explore the possibility that conceptually different forms of common-fraction understanding can be identified. Such forms may be associated with differences in fraction problem solving-performance. Contains 50 references. (DDR)

Explores the effects of Roundhouse diagram construction on a previously low-performing middle school science student's struggles to understand abstract science concepts and principles. Based on a metacognition-based visual learning model, aims to elucidate the process by which Roundhouse diagramming helps learners bootstrap their current…

Examined whether gender differences exist within cognitive stages and whether gender differences exist at the cognitive stage level in college freshmen (n=86). Longitudinal study found students' epistemological development revealed gender differences in epistemological reasoning structures but not in cognitive structural stages. (Author/ABL)

Outlines a cognitive model of visitors based on the concept of mindfulness/mindlessness. Presents an analysis of data on visitors to forestry centers in the United Kingdom. Results support the mindfulness approach as an appropriate cognitive model of visitors. (Author/CW)

Restructuring constraining thoughts is an important step in career counseling. A collaborative approach enables counselors to assist clients in (1) recalling distressing situations, (2) determining associated thoughts and feelings, (3) discovering underlying beliefs, (4) summarizing the thoughts, and (5) examining the relationship between beliefs,…

Describes and compares physics students' understanding of concepts associated with electric and magnetic fields using interviews and written tests. Provides insights into a more detailed view of students' understanding of fields using the theoretical framework of the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome Taxonomy. (Author/MKR)

Using conceptual change as theoretical lens, describes the structure of (n=4) learners' conceptual ecology within biological evolution and illustrates how this ecology influences the process of conceptual change. Prior conceptions relate to evolutionary theory, scientific and religious orientations, view of biological world, and acceptance of…

One important characteristic of rational action is that intentions should be consistent with beliefs. Two studies examined whether three year olds understand belief constraints on intention. In both studies, subjects' understanding of unfulfilled intentions was excellent and significantly better than their understanding of false beliefs, but…

Considers empirical evidence and theoretical issues that point out the need to reconceptualize individual differences in psychology. Studies use of arithmetic in everyday life and in the classrooms to explore consequences of cultural practices, the nature of individual differences in "ability," and links between practices and identity.…

Reviews Karmiloff-Smith's "Beyond Modularity," suggesting that her work highlights phenomena that seem counter intuitive when regarded from current developmental frameworks, and advocates that understanding them requires more complex perspectives than can be supported by either extreme nativist or domain-general models of cognitive…