Cohen's (TM 504 890) formal rules of intuitive probability lack normative or descriptive appeal, and his interpretation of the author's findings is not compelling. (CP)

Piaget's studies clearly highlight two qualitative advances made during the preoperational period. The first is the breakthrough of representational intelligence, beginning around 2 years of age. The second is the emergence of coordinated representational thought, beginning around 4 years of age. This paper focuses on the second advance, which…

Arguing that understanding what lies behind the apparent usability of direct manipulation style interfaces might not only help in building better interfaces, but can also draw attention to possible side effects, this paper uses examples from a prototype data manipulation system to pursue a characterization of direct manipulation interfaces as…

Major themes from the previous light articles on literacy, reasoning, and education are highlighted. Common inferences about the needs for organizational change, loosening of governmental rules and controls, and field-initiated research are described. The general exclusion of the affective domain from this discussions of higher order reasoning is…

The hermeneutic circle uses theory-practice interaction in three methods--science, critical theory, and poetics--in an effort to contribute to the continual search for greater understanding. (JN)

Two views of emotion in the writings of Paulo Freire are discussed. Freire views emotions as critical forces to be curbed if not eliminated. Emotions are also seen as a necessary part of that essential element of education for critical consciousness--dialog. (JN)

Three questions regarding the use of sign language as an alternative communication system for nonverbal autistic children are examined. Data on effects on speech, the upper limits of sign acquisition, and effects on adaptive function are discussed. (Author/CL)

This paper examines past theories and conceptions of epistemology and the work of some key theorists currently working in the field, in the hope of motivating the development of an expanded conception and redescription of epistemology. The paper uses as a metaphor for the study six blind men who describe an elephant as like a rope, a tree, a fan,…

Presents a brief overview of research and developments in the study of formal operations thought since 1972 along with some speculations concerning future research directions. (Author/MP)

Discusses Vygotsky's theories about concept formation, his distinctions between everyday and theoretical concepts, and how empirical generalizations can lead to misconceptions. Examines the implications of these theories for mathematics instruction and its relationship to the current mathematics reform. (34 references) (MDH)

Presents research findings and teaching implications of mathematics as reasoning and students' reasoning abilities in mathematics. (20 references) (MKR)

Describes a model for generative teaching of comprehension that focuses on students' knowledge base and preconceptions; motivation; attention; and generation of new models and explanations. Generative teaching procedures for facilitating comprehension in elementary school are reported. (Author/LB)

Describes 15 types of analogies, their facilitating function in mental processing, the kinds of knowledge for which they are most effectively employed, and their applicability across subject matter. Eight steps for constructing and presenting analogies and types of analogical relationships are included. Prevention of misconceptions is discussed.…

Reading is a process of forming and evaluating hypotheses to account for the data in a text. Because of its complexity, the task of reading requires strategies for controlling the proliferation of hypotheses. Four of these strategies are (1) jumping to conclusions, (2) maintaining inertia (refusing to abandon a hypothesis in spite of contradictory…

Research by Labov dealing with everyday speech and its relation to thinking and reasoning is critiqued, and Cooper's detailed criticism of Labov's research is discussed. Researchers should pay attention to actual speech in settings that are natural, rather than using only quantitative abstractions from artificial and restricted verbal encounters.…