The purpose was to determine whether different levels of education, race, and sex affect the degree of conservation of mass, weight, and volume attained by minimally educated adults. Subjects were 30 white and 30 black females and 30 white and 30 black males enrolled in Adult Basic Education classes, with 40 subjects each at grade levels 0-3, 4-6,…

The effects of numerical and visual cues, equality or inequality of initial volumes, size of measurement unit, and order of cue presentation on conservation of liquid volumes by first- and second-graders were investigated. Some findings extend, and others contradict, those of Piaget. (SD)

The purpose was to investigate the influence of variations in conservation form and perceptual modality on the expressed level of understanding of the conservation of weight concept, and to determine if these variations result in significantly different observed rates of concept development. Sampling included 225 children, five to twelve years…

The relationship between scores on three area conservation tasks and scores on two area measurement tasks, as affected by two sequences of presentation of Piagetian tasks to children in grades one through three, was investigated. The five area tasks were administered individually to 168 children ranging in age from six years five months to nine…

First-grade students' understanding of several basic measurement processes was examined. Twenty randomly selected students from five first-grade classes in two different schools were individually examined on 11 measurement tasks. Seven of the tasks were adapted from items reported in the Gal'perin and Georgiev study, designed to test understanding…

The purpose was to test portions of Piaget's model for the development of operational conservation and measurement of length. A random selection of 102 second grade students from three different cities was used; one group had participated in the AAAS "Science - A Process Approach" science program in grades K-2, one group had received…

Preservice teachers administered Piagetian tasks to elementary students. On the whole data collected compared favorably with the findings of Renner (EJ 044 727) in showing that students achieved conservation of substance (liquids and solids), length, area, and weight at later ages than stated by Piaget. No significant sex differences were found.…

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between the acquisition of conservation skills and achievement in mathematics. The conservation skills measured were numbered, mass, area and volume. Mathematics achievement was measured by the Computation, Concepts, Problem-Solving and Total Mathematics scores on the Metropolitan…

The study attempted to trace the relationship between facility with cardinal-ordinal aspects of number; attention to dimensions of number, length, and density; and the presence and absence of number conservation. On the basis of performances on the standard test for number conservation, 25 nonconserving kindergarteners, 34 conserving…

Piagetian conservation tasks in relation to standard intelligence tests with mildly mentally retarded students from different ethnic groups were investigated. Seventy-five boys between the ages of 10 and 15, who scored between 65 and 80 on the WISC, were studied. Elkind's procedures for conservation of substance, weight, and volume were used.…

Area and measurement tasks representative of those used by Piaget were administered to 168 primary students. Data were analyzed to determine effects of sex, age, and task sequence. (SD)

The purpose was to determine (1) if there was a significant difference in the performance on five science-related Piaget type tasks by fifth graders who were currently involved in different elementary science programs, and (2) if the tasks formed a hierarchical sequence of difficulty for the students. Three groups of fifth graders were studied;…

The use of equivalent-age children as tutors was investigated, and the cognitive changes of these tutors was examined. All first and second grade boys at two elementary schools were administered a pretest, and all those in a transitional stage of development between non-conservation and conservation of substance were selected for inclusion in the…

Attainment relative to six cognitive operations and four number and computational skills was assessed for 90 elementary students using clinical procedures. Variance associated with conservation of number, seriation, and logical classification competency accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in achievement scores. (Author/MK)

This book examines the Piagetian periods of concrete operations and formal operations from both educational and psychological points of view. The twin purposes are to interpret these levels and the transition between them in terms of implications for mathematics curriculum and teaching, and to derive psychological implications from experiences in…