Negative item bias is produced by the inability of preadolescent children to respond appropriately to negatively worded items on rating scales, and is hypothesized to be a cognitive-developmental phenomenon. The effect is examined with responses to the Self Description-Questionnaire (SDQ), a multifactor self-concept instrument. In study 1,…

The assessement materials described in this report were used by the Indigenous Mathematics Project to document various achievement and cognitive development factors at five sites in Papua New Guinea. The achievement instruments are criteria-referenced and consist of the Primary Maths Achievement Test, The Test of Arithmetic Skills, and the reading…

Cognitive and non-cognitive influences on the mathematical learning of children attending four community schools in different provinces of Papua New Guinea and an international primary school in Lae were investigated. Altogether, 446 pupils, most in grades 2, 4, or 6, were given pencil-and-paper group tests; 253 pupils were also given individual…

The hypothesis as to the atomic structure of any given substance is introduced in many physics and chemistry textbooks by conveying the idea of repetitive division of a given amount of substance, for example, by grinding, dissolving, or evaporating. The rationale for this approach is the assumption of students inferring that this process of…

In order to compare the differences in cognitions of experienced and beginning teachers, the perceptions of six experienced teachers, six student teachers, and six probationer teachers (in their first year of teaching after college training) were studied at various times during the course of a school year, using a variety of methods (interview,…

Reviews evidence showing the view of pervasive decrement in later life is being challenged. Evidence is accumulated that the intellectual performance of the older adult responds favorably to a variety of ecological, training, and motivational conditions, and that intellectual development in later life is characterized by plasticity not universal…

This collaborative study examined episodes in primary through secondary classrooms in which writing and reading were working together, exploring the extent to which student learning and development were enhanced. Review of research and extrapolations from classrooms suggest that benefits for students are likely to be accrued in four areas: (1)…

The paper reviews research trends and findings on the development of personality in deaf individuals. The first section, "Adolescent and Adult Deaf Personalities," focuses on studies in the psychological literature that tend to promulgate stereotypical views of deaf people by reflecting researcher bias rather than researcher findings.…

Based on research relating William Perry's scheme of cognitive development to foreign language proficiency, a developmental hypothesis concerning language ability is proposed. This approach suggests that lower developmental stages in the cognitive domain retard the achievement of communicative language proficiency, while higher developmental…

The purpose of this book is to improve instruction by helping future teachers understand the realities of teaching, understand and organize relevant psychological theory, and become competent at tasks instructors perform. There are 29 chapters which deal with the following topics: (1) teacher decision making; (2) student physical development; (3)…

Arguments for and against banning television commercials aimed at children under age 12, as well as the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the First Amendment, and parents in regulating such commercials, are explored in this paper. Following an introduction that describes the controversy, a second section of the paper details the…

The validity of educational tests used as critical measures of educational outcomes within a dynamic system is discussed. Validity becomes a problem if an educational system adapts itself to the characteristics of the outcome measures. The concept of systematically valid tests is introduced; these tests induce curricular and instructional changes…

This monograph represents 5 years of collaborative discussions among individuals interested in improving the teaching and learning of mathematics beginning in 1985 with the planning of a conference and culminating in the production of this collection of 13 papers to be presented at the conference. Chapters include: (1) an introduction…

Three dimensions of education--development of knowledge, training of mental abilities, and development of character--and their implications for social and individual good are discussed in this paper. Education is described as the process that prepares young people for their social inheritance through the transmission of societal values. A…

This digest considers the role of personal computers in the education of gifted students. There is evidence that students are working "smarter," whether they are learning and using more information, understanding key concepts and relationships better, or developing higher level thinking skills. Research findings concerning the specific…