A control group of 31 received traditional microeconomics instruction; 20 experimentals viewed the Economics U$A telecourse with lecture, discussion, and textbook. Pre/posttest data demonstrated no significant differences in comprehension of content or in cognitive level, although the video group did do better in the area of implicit application.…

Considers assumptions underlying current cognitive science research on concepts: (1) novel information is first processed via similarity judgments and later by explanatory components; (2) children initially have a similarity-based component for learning concepts--the explanatory component develops on its foundation. Argues that these assumptions…

Two experiments examined the development of extended identity in children between 5 and 11 years. Findings indicated that only older children judged that they would be evaluated negatively through their association with a wrongdoer and that they would feel embarrassment. Responsibility for a younger child's actions was associated with an earlier…

Notes that fuzzy-trace theory has been used to understand false memories of children. Demonstrates the irony imbedded in the theory, maintaining that a central implication of fuzzy-trace theory is that some errors characterized as false memories are not really false at all. These errors, when applied to false alarms to related lures, are best…

Five experiments examined 15- and 18-month olds' sensitivity to morphosyntactic dependencies. Results indicated that 18-month olds, but not 15-month olds, were sensitive to basic relationship between "is" and "-ing" and that 18-month-olds could track relationships between functor morphemes. Findings were consistent with hypothesis that 18-month…

Examines some aspects of mathematical cognition at the highest level of formal functioning. Illustrates how the structure of a mathematician's output and its cognitive complexity can be characterized by the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy. Contains 28 references. (Author/ASK)

Presents an analysis of young students' development of multiplication and division concepts based on a multimodal Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) model. Describes a SOLO developmental model for multiplication and division in terms of developing structure and associated counting and calculation strategies. Contains 48 references.…

Reports observations of the use of mental aerobics with 48 adults whose median age was 70. Provides examples of the group puzzles and logic, math, and word problems used to enhance cognitive functioning and creative thinking. (SK)

This exploratory study of 152 undergraduate students examined the relationships among spirituality, cognitive and moral development, and existential sense of meaning. Results suggest that no relationship exists between spirituality and cognitive development, but that spirituality is positively related to both moral development and purpose in life.…

Discusses Frege's influence on Piaget. Concludes that: Frege's work influenced Piaget from the outset; their positions were parallel related to logic and judgment, number conservation, and sense and meaning; and the implications of the argument concern nonpsychologism and psycho-logic, psychological laws and causal origins of human judgment, and…

Examined whether use of statistical properties of syllable sequences is uniquely tied to linguistic materials for adults and 8-month olds. Found that both groups were able to segment a continuous non-linguistic auditory sequence or tone stream, with performance indistinguishable from that obtained from syllable streams. Results suggests that the…

Two studies explored relations between young children's peer social skills and theory of mind. Study 1 found positive, but moderate, zero-order correlations between false-belief measures and social skills, and false belief accounted for a significant amount of additional variance in social skills after covarying age and language measures. Study 2…

Two experiments investigated whether 5-month olds would look longer at rotating "drawbridge" appearing to violate physical laws because they knew it was causally impossible. Findings indicated that infants' longer gaze at 180-degree rotations was due to simple perceptual preference for more motion, challenging Baillargeon's (1987) claim…

Three experiments explored 3- and 4-year olds' use of external representations. Results indicated that 4-year olds outperformed 3-year olds on self-recognition task; children performed better with photographs than drawings; a delay had no effect. Results suggested that assessments of self and other understanding may reflect children's ability to…

Reviews Kaufman Adolescent and Adult Intelligence Test (KAIT), a new assessment of cognitive function for technical qualities such as reliability, validity, and standardization characters. Concludes that KAIT represents advancements in cognitive assessment but cannot be regarded as superior to existing intelligence measures until data is available…