Opposes the view that standards for evaluation arguments do not exist or cannot be developed. Justifies argument evaluation and sketches the outlines of a general method for evaluating ordinary arguments. (PD)

A comparison of the analogy-solving ability of 12 deaf and 12 hearing adolescents supported the predication that hearing Ss would demonstrate better analogical reasoning. The prediction was based on the premise that the oral-aural communication mode provides sensory experience that facilitates the perception of the contrast necessary to cognition…

The creative act arises out of a need to explore human experience, and mathematics is a locus of creative activity. Mathematics should be taught to show the value of imagination and reasoning. (MT)

Fourteen gifted junior high school students who received positive reinforcement for the process of developing a hypothesis, conclusion, or opinion demonstrated a statistically significant increase in higher cognitive level thought processes. Gains were not matched by a gifted control group receiving product reinforcement or for two nongifted…

Discusses how youngsters learn to think in a recognizable adult fashion about political, social, and humanistic issues. Reports on research on the development of political attitudes over the course of adolescence. Concludes that the major difference between younger and older adolescents is the ability of the latter to think abstractly when…

Generally, reading is perceived as consisting of identifying words and increasing comprehension skills, but there are a plethora of additional symbols which students need to read and comprehend meaningfully. This paper first discusses reading across the curriculum, emphasizing abstract words, and then considers symbols peculiar to diverse academic…

This paper examines the role of scaffolding in the process of abstraction. An activity-theoretic approach to abstraction in context is taken. This examination is carried out with reference to verbal protocols of two 17 year-old students working together on a task connected to sketching the graph of |f|x|)|. Examination of the data suggests that…

In this paper, we present a didactic analysis of the mathematical concept of implication under three points of view: sets, formal logic, deductive reasoning. For this study, our hypothesis is that most of the difficulties and mistakes, as well in the use of implication as in its understanding, are due to the lack of links in education between…

For related article see ej 058 934.

In this study involving 32 first graders, results indicated that imitative learning was accomplished and translated into action by a two-step process of informational analysis involving abstraction and subsequent inference. (Author/WY)

Examines the feasibility of including instruction in common schemes of inference in the elementary grades. (CP)

Briefly examined is the nature of American Sign Language and its capabilities for use in abstract reasoning. (CB)

Reports an experiment in which a topical system facilitated subjects' recall of information pertinent both to highly meaningful and less meaningful issues; based upon author's doctoral study, Pennsylvania State University. (RD)

The variables of abstraction and facetiousness possess stimulus properties which allow accurate prediction of their respective effects on small group communication processes. Relationships between specific levels of abstraction and facetiousness and feedback in problem-solving discussions are determinant interactions. Design and methodology of…