Comments on Flavell's paper in this issue. Examines the paper's findings on three different aspects of children's knowledge about thinking: their ability to differentiate thinking from other activities, their awareness that thinking is always going on in people's minds, and their capacity for introspection into their own thinking. Argues that…

Culturally specific compounds in Chinese could be more effectively studied from a cognitive approach, using the underlying idealized cognitive models defined by Lakoff. It is argued that the formation of Chinese compounds are systematically guided by idealized cognitive models and compounds are semantically compositional. (seven references) (LB)

Three experiments investigated the ability of 79 college students to solve similar algebra word problems. Data indicate that students are able to perceive and use similarities in such problems at the level of a conceptual structure. A training session to explain relevant structural principles was effective in improving performance. (SLD)

An instructional design model defining instruction as creation of a learning environment that supports learners' construction of knowledge was tested with 32 learners. Findings suggested that the learning environment was effective in supporting learners' construction of complex knowledge structures. (SK)

Discusses special issue of the journal, which is product of a University of Oregon symposium that looked for points of contact among perspectives on second-language acquisition (SLA), second-language instruction, and cognition. Contributions make case for extension of cognitive science methods and ideas but also make case for incorporating study…

Comments on Lewis's ideas about reconciling stage and specificity in neo-Piagetian theory in this issue. Focuses on whether general stages, domain specificity, and individual diversity are compatible from a nonlinear, dynamic perspective. Suggests that, by using catastrophe theory, intra- and interindividual diversity and domain specificity can be…

Discusses helping students understand cases and classes through knowledge modeling. Discusses classification and human cognition, and classification and pictorial knowledge models. Provides classroom extension activities. (SR)

Discusses the role of abstraction in the development of mathematical concepts among young children. (MDH)

Studies the role of intuitive rules in science and mathematics education. Describes the effect of two intuitive rules on students in grades 7-12 as they perform tasks related to mathematical and physical objects. Contains 28 references. (DDR)

Reports on a study of a small group of girls in Australia that investigated how older adolescents cognitively utilize information on heroin. The study sought to establish the perceived effects of exposures to information and to establish how the perceived effects are associated with changes to the girls' knowledge structures. (Author/LRW)

Explores the development of understanding of the concept of average with students from grades 3 to 9 through interviews. Observed six levels of response based on an hierarchical model of cognitive functioning. Documents usage of ideas associated with the three standard measures of central tendency and representation as strategies for problem…

Illustrates "hard" and "soft" theoretical constraints of cognitive structures and examines ways in which the learning mechanism feature of the Soar architecture places hard constraints on all models that use the feature. The relationship between architecture and model in terms of the degree to which a model is compliant with constraints set by the…

Assessed preschoolers' perceptions of and attitudes toward time out discipline. Found that children were isolated for noncompliance more often than for aggression. Children expressed largely negative self-attributions, such as feeling alone, disliked by the teacher, and ignored by peers, indicating perception of punishment. As they were usually…

Reports on (n=11) student attempts at 3 combinatorial questions focusing mainly on 3 aspects of strategy: (1) listing; (2) subdivision into cases; and (3) use or misuse of 4 standard formulas. (MKR)

Discusses research on classroom-type settings and applications. Results indicate an association between knowledge and affect along with prominent sex differences. Cites the need for further research to determine how knowledge and attitudes influence each other. Contains 27 references. (DDR)