Reviews studies related to problem solving in science education. Discusses findings in the areas of investigative methods, improvement of problem-solving abilities, task variables (puzzles, problems), and subject variables (cognitive structures, developmental factors, disposition). (ML)

Presents a comparative analysis of the psychometric properties of three group tests of logical thinking used in science education research. Findings dealing with Longeot's Test of Logical Thinking, Lawson's Test of Formal Reasoning, and Tobin and Capie's Test of Logical Thinking demonstrate a lack of concurrent validity. Includes recommendations.…

Analysis of errors children make is modeled both with and without computers. Patterns of thinking are traced for a fifth grader, with the discussion focused on getting clues for remedial instruction by analyzing the dialog. (MNS)

Addresses implications drawn from contemporary research in cognitive psychology which deal with the impact of nonconscious mental structures and processes on an individual's experience, thought, and action. Discusses the information-processing perspective, automatic processes, subliminal perception, implicit memory, hypnotic alterations, and the…

There is an explosion of cross-cultural research on cognitive development. This research has the following three phases of interaction with education: (1) the application of western approaches to the third world; (2) the search for culturally specific modes of learning; and (3) the testing of innovations for the education of minority children.…

There has been a shift of emphasis in research on the teaching of writing. The focus changed from the products of writing to writing processes. This has strong implications for instruction. Writing curriculum should be based on the organization of the cognitive processes involved in writing skills. (Author/VM)

Concludes from a research project that the pleasure and success preschool and kindergarten children experience with computers is proportional to the foundation of pleasure and success they have already built by comprehending, remembering, evaluating, and creating with tangible objects and familiar people. Also discusses potential values of…

Addresses the importance of recognizing the prior knowledge and misconceptions of science educators. Provides perspectives on the nature of knowledge, conceptions of learning, nature of science and of teaching, and the relationship between general principles of learning and teaching. (ML)

Compared self-poisoning patients with psychiatric patients and nonpatient controls on problem-solving skills and locus of control. The psychiatric and self-poisoning groups showed deficits on interpersonal problem solving compared with nonpatient controls. The self-poisoning group performed below or at the level of the psychiatric group. Locus of…

Answers James Stiff's criticism of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasion. Corrects certain misperceptions of the ELM and criticizes Stiff's meta-analysis that compares ELM predictions with those derived from Kahneman's elastic capacity model. Argues that Stiff's presentation of the ELM and the conclusions he draws based on the data…

Summarizes 10 presentations made at the workshop on a variety of topics including: classification of Chinese dialects; the importance of semantic units in tone sandhi; insights on Chinese character recognition among brain-damaged patients; and a cognitive approach to the study of Chinese grammar. (TR)

Describes study that investigated the influence of formal features in educational video films on recall. Film sequences, techniques of representation, the interaction of text and pictures, and the effects of emotional stimuli are discussed; hypotheses tested are explained; and treatments of the experimental group and control group are described.…

A training experiment with 30 mentally handicapped children tested two models of mental-arithmetic development. Children's initial responses to a mental-addition task appeared to be the product of a mechanical prescription. Errors appeared to be more errors of method than of recall. (MNS)

Identifying the main points of a communication is fundamental to successful reading comprehension. Discussed are difficulties in defining main idea, text structure variables in determining important information, textual hierarchy and the theory of macrostructure, text features signalling important information, summary writing, learning-disabled…

Instructors who are sensitive to the needs of adult students promote a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning. Students learn best when following a well-organized program of instruction. (JOW)