Argues that current practices for teaching integrative thinking skills are inadequate partly because no model exists to understand such efforts. Proposes a model for teaching integrative thinking based on existing models of creativity and synthesis. Discusses implications of the model for interdisciplinary studies. (32 citations) (AJL)

Described is an experiment in which students are able to synthesize an unnatural compound having the odor and flavor of coconuts. Laboratory equipment, procedures, and analysis of the product are discussed. (CW)

A model is proposed for the general abstracting process (using disciplines such as linguistics, logic, and psychology) that is based on a system of combined strategies with four stages: reading-understanding; selection; interpretation; synthesis. (Author/JKP)

Examines existing data on biological diversity among Americans of African descent within the contexts of their evolutionary backgrounds and political and economic realities. Explores the origins of the diversity, and provides an evolutionary and political economy synthesis for evaluating the biological distinctions apparent among African…

The integrative literature review is a distinctive form of research that generates new knowledge about the topic reviewed. Little guidance is available on how to write an integrative literature review. This article discusses how to organize and write an integrative literature review and cites examples of published integrative literature reviews…

An appraisal of recent reviews of the literature on management development demonstrates the existence of a number of perspectives on the topic, and this lack of a uniform approach has contributed to confusion about the subject. This article examines a series of recent and existing literature reviews on the topic of management development. It…

The assumption that today's German students are able to successfully combine synthesis achievement values and well-being values appears to be overly optimistic when regarded from the perspective of motivational psychology. The results of a qualitative-quantitative interview study with 25 students indicate that achievement and well-being values may…

Because of the rising interest in the relevance of psychology to missions, a number of empirical studies have been completed which address various issues pertaining to missionary selection, stress, and ongoing functioning. This paper presents a critique and synthesis of the empirical literature relevant to missionary selection, stress, and…

H. M. Cooper (1988) has developed a taxonomy that classified literature reviews based on six characteristics: (1) focus of attention; (2) goal of the synthesis; (3) perspective on the literature; (4) coverage of the literature; (5) organization of the perspective; and (6) intended audience. One hundred and three meta-analyses identified from the…

This report is a synthesis of what Public/Private ventures (P/PV) (Pennsylvania) has learned in 8 years of research into mentoring for adolescents. It also identifies the key issues that remain open with regard to mentoring. An impact study of Big Brothers/Big Sisters provides definitive evidence that youth can obtain benefits from participating…

Nine national studies and reports on education and economic reform that were published between 1988 and 1992 were analyzed from the standpoint of their implications for curriculum standards in vocational education. A comparative matrix analysis method was developed and used to compare and contrast the nine studies/reports to the Secretary's…

Does a drawing embody the form and focus of what the artist actually sees, or instead, is it only after seeing the finished drawing that the artist knows the true meaning of his or her visual experience? It is the knowledge of the visual experience that drives the representation of it. Knowledge of the visual experience is present in varying…

An integrative causal process model of evaluation utilization variables is presented. The model was developed through a traditional approach to literature review that lists results from published studies and relates these to the research topic, and through an approach that tries to integrate the models found in the literature search. Meta-modeling…

This paper places the rise and decline of the progressive movement in education in the context of shifts in determinist-humanist philosophies, popular conceptions of social needs and demands of education, and genetic-cognitive trends in psychology. The following six theses are advanced to explain the rise and decline of the progressive curriculum…

Meta-analysis, as a quantitative approach, requires a determination of a basic comparability between phenomena so that the data can be aggregated for the analysis. This is the crux of the problem with the meta-analysis analogy for a meta-ethnography. It implies an aggregate theory of social explanation, and thus may violate the qualitative,…