Modes of cognition are postulated consisting of third- and fourth-order operations; these are hypothesized to be qualitatively different from, and hierarchically related to, the form of reasoning characterized as formal operational by Inhelder and Piaget. An instrument was developed to assess these modes of cognition. (RH)

Results indicated that 8 of the 36 adolescents fell into the strategy-absent category, characterized by a large discrepancy (in either direction) between their verbal and nonverbal abilities. Ss whose disabilities were limited primarily to reading and written language were largely spontaneous strategy users (17 out of 20). (Author)

Argues the benefits of introducing S. I. Hayakawa's "abstraction ladder" to students. Discusses its implications for developing good writing and thinking skills and ways to use it with students. (RAE)

Interviews 120 children in kindergarten and grades 2, 4, and 6 with five Piagetian tasks to determine the grade level at which most have constructed transitive reasoning, unit iteration, and conservation of speed. Indicates that construction of the logic necessary to make sense of the measurement of time is generally not complete before sixth…

Two experiments with children five and eight years of age examined the effects of different types of similarity on analogical problem solving and explored the cognitive components responsible for these effects. Results indicated that superficial and structural similarity facilitated the process of drawing analogies. (WJC)

According to construal level theory (N. Liberman, Y. Trope, & E. Stephan, in press; Y. Trope & N. Liberman, 2003), people use a more abstract, high construal level when judging, perceiving, and predicting more psychologically distal targets, and they judge more abstract targets as being more psychologically distal. The present research…

HYPOTHESIZING THAT CONGENITALLY BLIND ADULTS WOULD SCORE LOWER ON TESTS OF ABSTRACTION THAN ADVENTITIOUSLY BLIND OR SIGHTED ADULTS, THIS STUDY TESTED 25 CONGENITALLY BLIND, 25 ADVENTITIOUSLY BLIND, AND 25 SIGHTED SUBJECTS. THE WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE (WAIS) VOCABULARY TEST WAS ADMINISTERED TO EACH GROUP AND RESULTS SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT…

Recent interest in the direct, descriptive study of teaching has led to renewed attention to the types of questions asked by teachers. An important contributing factor has also been the progress made in the analysis of cognitive operations and the identification of a complex hierarchy of operations. Several observation systems developed from…

Contends that a modern theory of the composing process can be based directly on evolutionary theory as it relates to the origins and history of consciousness. (Author)

A comparison is made between the experienced scientist and the young child in their reasoning processes and methods of reaching logical conclusions. (JD)

Seeks to provide a conceptual framework which will illuminate the similarities and differences among major theories of rhetorical criticism. (MH)

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…

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)