Describes two experiments on conservation of weight and volume based on Piaget's experiments. These experiments showed that some college students were unable to operate at the formal operations level. (PS)

Described is a technique for determining whether a student can conserve matter. This technique utilizes a square-triangle problem. Included are typical answers and Piagetian-type explanations for such answers. (DS)

Discusses students' understanding of the qualitative conservation of matter and how this understanding is influenced by previous instruction in chemistry and task variables. Results show the influence of group membership, task content, and problem context on students' performance. (ZWH)

Discusses the fact that although most historians of science attribute the formulation of the law of conservation of matter in chemical reactions to Antoine Lavoisier at the end of the eighteenth century, several earlier researchers had already assumed this law in their work. These researchers include Joseph Black, Henry Cavendish, M. V. Lomonosov,…

Studies of the hierarchical attainment of conservation of physics concepts revealed significant differences with respect to age, sex, and grade level in a random sample of seventh and eighth grade students. Conservation of a quantity did not necessarily depend on the prior conservation of its constituent fundamental quantities. (MLH)

Sixty subjects were identified from two grade levels (second and fifth), in elementary schools in Iowa and in Jordan. Cognitive and moral judgment tasks were administered to each subject. The cognitive tasks measured conservation, class inclusion, multiplicative classification, and spatial perception. The moral judgment tasks presented situations…

Describes a study designed to determine the effects of Science: A Process Approach (SAPA) on kindergarten children's ability to conserve on six tasks. It was concluded that the rate of attainment of conservation skills is affected at least in part by the experiences made possible by SAPA. (JR)

Two Piagetian tests which require manipulation, two conservation tasks, and the Longeot pencil and paper formal reasoning test were administered to 62 high school biology students. For all measures the males' mean level was higher than that of the females. (MLH)

Derives Kepler's three laws of planetary motion algebraically from conservation principles without introducing Newton's law of force explicitly. This procedure can be presented to students who have had no more than high school algebra. (Author)

Piaget's theory of cognitive development is explained, especially in relation to the teaching of elementary school science. Several research projects involving Piaget's theories are reviewed. (MLH)

The value of verbal rules given to learners as an instructional aid in forming desired concepts was investigated in this study. Two programs dealing with the concept of conservation of energy in heat exchange between liquids were prepared in the form of self-instructional booklets. One presentation used a picture-rule or expository treatment, and…

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;…

Studied effectiveness of teaching conservation of chemical identity, composition, and mass to 12 boys and 11 girls of ages ranging from 11.11 to 12.10, using techniques analogous to Piaget's. Indicated the necessity of course re-examination to facilitate attainment of conservation concepts. (CC)

Reported is a study of the relationship between ability to perform selected Piagetian tasks and achievement in various content areas. Sixty fifth-grade students were administered the Science Research Associates Achievement Series to assess grade-level category. Also, each child was administered one or more Piagetian tasks selected to determine…

Investigates the effectiveness of two conflict-producing procedures: (1) Peer interaction and conflict training; and (2) Teacher conflict training in promoting the development of logical thinking of fifth-graders as measured by the acquisition of conservation of area. (HM)