Reported is a study of the effects of using the counterintuitive event in science teaching on subject-matter achievement and subject-matter retention of upper-elementary school students. Two separate units of instruction based on the demonstration-discussion method were designed for the study. A unit of instruction was designed for the control…

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.…

In an investigation of the "shaping" function of postquestions in prose and of a new methodological approach, fifth-grade children read forty text cards, each consisting of four attributive statements. Each card was followed by an experimental question, which during training tested information related to specified concepts or positions, or…

These proceedings emphasize multidisciplineary theory and research having implications for behavioral science and/or education. The contributions deal with one or more of the following questions: (1) How can one characterize the knowledge structures which underlie behavior associated with subject matter disciplines such as mathematics and…

The effects of imagery instructions, word arousal value, and retention interval on children's literal and inferential comprehension of text was studied using 459 grade 3, 4 and 5 students. Imagery instructions significantly facilitated inferential comprehension on the short-term retention test but this effect disappeared a week later. On the other…

Three of the postulates elaborated and developed in "The Rhythmic Claims of Freedom and Discipline" by A.N. Whitehead contain implications for individualized learning. The first postulate states that the process of education envelopes three major periods--the stages of romance, precision, and generalization; the second postulate states that the…

This review was undertaken to determine whether there is evidence to support the reality of a stage of Formal Operational Thought, whether there is agreement as to the Age of Acquisition of it, and the effect of schooling on the acquisition of the ability to perform formal operational tasks. An extensive review of the literature, including many…

Digraphs, graphs, and task analysis were used to map out the content structure of a programed text (SMSG) in elementary probability. Mathematical structure was defined as the relationship between concepts within a set of abstract systems. The word association technique was used to measure the existing relations (cognitive structure) in S's memory…

Four hundred students, ranging from 5 to 15 years of age, were administered a series of tests of concept learning and development as a test of the Conceptual Learning and Development (CLD) model. Various levels of attainment of the concept of "equilateral triangle" were measured. The CLD model predicts that a decreasing number of students at a…

This report presents research concerned with two information-processing constructs, "cognitive strategies" and "cognitive styles." Study one analyzes thinking-aloud protocols obtained from a female undergraduate doing anagram problems. Several major strategies are described, along with basic "Operators" subject used to construct and modify…

Proposed is the assessment of learning potential through a test-train-retest paradigm in addition to the traditional intelligence test with mentally handicapped or disadvantaged children. Discussed is a rationale for the approach which posits that poor and/or nonwhite children do not have equal access to school-preparatory experiences though they…

Research sought to determine whether memorization of rule statements before, during or after instruction in rule application skills would facilitate the acquisition and/or retention of rule-governed behavior as compared to no-rule statement memorization. A computer-assisted instructional (CAI) program required high school students to learn to a…

This study investigates developmental trends in free recall, with emphasis on rehearsal processes. An overt rehearsal technique was used in which 28 children in grades 3, 6, and 8 were instructed to rehearse out loud while trying to memorize a list of unrelated nouns. Control groups at each age level received standard free recall instructions,…

To investigate two measures which have been used to assess children's attention to stimulus dimensions, component selection, and dimension preference, both measures were administered to 38 3 1/2 to 5-year-olds and 20 5- to 6 1/2-year-olds. Seven to ten days after the dimension preference task was given. the component selection measure was…

Reported is a study to determine differences between selected elementary Index, Revised Inquiry Index, percentage of class time spent in pupil experiment Index, Revised Inquiry Index, percentage of class time spend in pupil experiment and time spent in reading and/or extended viewing activities. Audio-tape recordings were made using materials from…