The rationale, planning and implementing of this research is discussed in terms of its three hypotheses: (1) that both self desensitization and in vivo desensitization would result in lower Fear Index and Anxiety Differential scores of counselor trainees just prior to communicating with a role playing client in a counseling room where they are…

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) is surveyed in terms of both the extent of research progress as well as the degree of utilization for this new technological approach to education. After a brief review of some of the critical terminology used to describe research progress within CAI, a conceptual framework by which to consider current…

Behavior can be modified because it is governed by its consequences. Observable behavior, excluding its causes, is modified by the application of techniques derived from B.F. Skinner's operant learning theory. Optimum effects can be achieved only after thorough knowledge of the child is gained, particularly in the area of his capabilities. The…

Much current disaffection among university administrators comes from the preoccupation of higher education with structure and its inability to deal seriously with PROCESS. "This paper is an attempt to develop a new conception of a college in which process and individuality predominate, and structure and system are seen as means to…

A theory of structure in teaching is presented and a system of analysis introduced which allows empirical investigation of verbal behavior in the classroom. Two kinds of structure are distinguished: "static" structure, defined as stable organized clusters of knowledge, and "kinetic" structure, defined as the sequential process of building up…

Originating from an interest in the language-cognition relationship as reflected in the cognitive abilities of children, this study was planned to examine the differing theoretical implications of Piaget and Vygotsky regarding categorization. The instrument designed for this study, the Question Game, based on the game of Twenty Questions, was made…

Theories of language acquisition which emphasize the role of imitation, reinforcement, inheritance, and the active involvement of the child himself in the language acquisition process are discussed in this paper. The three major theories are: (1) the behavioristic theory which asserts that children learn their language through imitation of…

In a recent experiment it was discovered that although many children learn uniformly well (or poorly) from pictures and words, others learn appreciably better from pictures. The present study rules out an alternative explanation of those data--which had been produced on a single learning task containing both pictures and words--by obtaining…

Three experiments examined the role of contingent associations in learning double-function, verbal-discrimination lists. Some 15-pair lists were constructed of category instances in such a way that the learning of three contingent associations based on category names would mediate correct performance for all 15 pairs. The first experiment gave no…

An annotated bibliography of studies dealing with social reinforcement in diverse psychological and educational contexts is given. The research reviewed covers the period from 1964 to 1972, and individual studies are classified according to classes of variables which have been found to moderate the effectiveness of social reinforcement. All told,…

Major studies and theoretical positions within the incentive motivation field are reviewed in order to present an integrated picture of past and present research. Special emphasis is placed on delineating social reinforcement variables in an attempt to explicate their relative importance within the context of social reinforcement theory; however,…

This paper discusses how the contributions of psychology may be fruitfully applied to the problem of teacher education and describes a curriculum offering designed and implemented to illustrate the author's conclusions regarding theory and practice. Conclusions from the discussion section are 1) teacher training problems can be seen as emerging…

This study was undertaken to test the findings of Dienes and Jeeves concerning the strategies used by students to learn mathematical structures. The study also proposed to determine whether students are consistent across structures and embodiments in the strategies they use and the evaluations they give. One hundred adolescent girls were given…

The entire question of how management skills and techniques are transferred is extremely complex. Even to identify relevant environmental, organizational, and personal variables takes many pages, and detailed explorations of even a few key interrelationships in any country takes much time and money to explore properly. A second general conclusion…

In this third Occasional Paper in the Science series of The Science and Mathematics Education Information Analysis Center, Ausubel explains the nature and theoretical rationale of "organizers", abstract, general, and inclusive statements presented prior to new learning tasks to provide specific relevant anchoring ideas in the learner's…