The relation between field independence-dependence and creativity was investigated in 40 fourth graders equally divided by sex. The measures used were the Children's Embedded Figures Test, several verbal and figural subtests from the Torrance Tests of Creativity, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. No significant Pearson correlations were…

This study was designed to examine the effects of auditory memory, visual memory, and vocabulary knowledge on intramodal and intermodal delayed matching-to-sample tasks. A secondary objective was to assess the value of task performance and trait measures in predicting reading achievement. A total of 52 first graders were randomly selected as…

Discusses the process of increasing academic standards of students and broadening their knowledge in a balanced science education program. Describes assessment levels of knowledge with understanding and the basis for choosing course content material. Cites problems arising from management of project. (RT)

Discusses the claims that experiences in computer programming enhance performance on conditional reasoning tasks. Describes three experimental studies designed to address that hypothesis using three different populations of students. Results of all three studies indicate nonsignificant treatment effects. (TW)

A study analyzing word characteristics that make them more easily translated from English to French (or vice versa) indicates that translation efficacy is most strongly influenced by the frequency of the word in the language, its familiarity, and the similarity of the French equivalent to the English word. (Author/CB)

This study of two fifth grade classes investigated students' reports of attention, understanding, cognitive processes and affect during a nine-day mathematics unit on measurement. These self-reports appeared more valid indicators of classroom learning than observed time on task. Student affect mediated the relationship between instructional…

Describes a literature-based approach to helping primary students become more proficient problem solvers in mathematics. Literature-based activities were chosen to develop a sense of community in the classroom. This enabled students to develop the self-confidence to share thoughts and feelings while problem solving in small-group and class…

Observations and interviews with preservice elementary teachers examined their beliefs, conceptions, and practices and their views of mathematical and pedagogical content knowledge, noting whether they changed during a mathematics methods course. Results revealed symbiotic relationships between their views of content knowledge and their…

Explores teachers' beliefs and theories about students' thinking by examining the teachers' instructional goals, views on the depth versus breadth of content coverage issue, and conceptions of students' thinking. Finds important differences between teachers who were effective at promoting thoughtful classroom discourse and those who were not.…

Investigates cognitive strategies that Hispanic elementary school students use in critical thinking social studies problems. Describes a survey examining the use of 12 cognitive strategies and the analysis of task completion. Concludes that students need to learn specific cognitive strategies in higher level tasks. (KO)

Investigates the influence of linguistic structure on non-linguistic cognition by comparing Russian and English behavior on tasks involving the color blue. Russians, who differentiate this region into "dark blue" and "light blue," were expected to separate blues more often than English subjects for whom the colors belong to one lexical category.…

Effects of mothers' need for approval on children's expectancies for success and persistence during failure were studied for 90 fifth graders attempting to solve 4 puzzles, 3 of which were unsolvable. Parental and situational variables affect children's achievement cognitions and behavior. Implications for parental socialization of achievement are…

Describes a study that examined the information-seeking behavior of undergraduate students searching print and electronic encyclopedias to determine how mental models are adapted for different types of media. Cognitive load is discussed; print and electronic systems are compared; differences among three electronic encyclopedias are described; and…

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…

Describes study that was conducted to determine whether the search process is the same for academic, public, and school library users. Cognitive models of information seeking are discussed, users' attitudes during the search process are described, the role mediators play is examined, and future research needs are suggested. (26 references) (LRW)