The hypothesis that the relationship between medical school achievement and postgraduate performance would vary by specialty was confirmed in a comparison of grades, standardized medical exams, and ratings in four areas of competence (medical knowledge, data-gathering skills, clinical judgment, and professional attitudes) in internal medicine,…

Provides an overview and rationale for critical television viewing skills projects funded by the United States Department of Education (USDE) in 1978, describing in detail the development of a curriculum package for high school students. Addresses of four USDE projects in critical television viewing are included. (JJD)

Explains that the approach to take regarding the peer review issue is to reconsider what is meant by merit in educational research and to train upcoming researchers to expand their ability to judge merit. (Contains 25 references.) (DDR)

Describes a study investigating the effects of instruction in probability theory on student abilities to estimate probability and solve common problems. Reports no effects. Indicates that certain psychological approaches for solving probability are common in diverse groups and are resistant to change even under formal instruction. (MAB)

Investigated whether actors and observers differ in their beliefs about what features of an individual best reflect his/her "authentic self." Results indicate that actors' views differed significantly from observers'. Friend raters believed that their friends' dispositional traits were better indicators than what their friends actually did,…

Describes the importance of estimation in science for planning projects, conducting experiments, and developing theories. Defines order of magnitude. Provides explicit mathematical equations and calculations to estimate answers for seven provocative physics problems. Includes nine additional open-ended problems with hints and solutions. (PR)

Describes a project in which a group of students wrote and published a history of their high school. Lists objectives of the project, such as developing research, analytic, interpersonal, and communication skills and self-esteem. Includes preparing a blueprint of ideas, researching, writing, marketing, and distributing the school's history. (DK)

Relates a teaching strategy whereby introductory sociology students wrote and analyzed their own stories to create a self-published book. Describes course goals as becoming familiar with sociological perspectives, concepts, strategies, and methods and to develop reading, analytical thinking, and writing skills. Includes discussion of the course…

Illustrates how history can be taught through a problem-solving method. Encourages teachers to use critical thinking methods based on experience, helping students develop a systematic approach to thinking about historical problems. Stresses developing students' ability to evaluate historical sources allows teachers to direct a more interactive…

Four studies revealed that (1) children judged a wrongdoer in a story to feel happy; (2) the incidence of happy judgments did not decline with age; (3) the presence of their teacher had an effect on children's judgments; and (4) some children judged the wrongdoer to feel sad rather than scared. (BB)

Reviews some of the basic tenets of critical thinking as it applies to social studies, especially those articulated in Roland Case's and Ian Wright's article, "Taking Seriously the Teaching of Critical Thinking." Praises the article but suggests that it would be improved by tightening the central focus. (MJP)

Describes two classroom activities that introduce critical-thinking skills into social studies instruction. One is a debate, followed by position papers, on the contribution of Christopher Columbus. The other is a simulation of a Constitutional Amendment conference. Discusses which parts of the lessons specifically focus on critical-thinking…

Presents a procedure involving students in analyzing and defending their interpretation of oral and written stories. This technique extends students' range of interpretive strategies and increases their confidence and enjoyment in reading and listening to stories in English. The procedure is adaptable to student interest and teacher proficiency.…

Asserts that lying is not a simple principle or feature, but a cluster of features where anything in the cluster is considered lying. Argues that the process of meta-ethical analysis and rational discussion should be part of moral education, in that it may help to develop critical thought about the ability and practice of making good and rational…

To describe their knowledge of assessment, specifically prepared scripts from 30 novice teachers were content analysed. Knowledge of the formative-summative mode was evident in all scripts but the connections made between this mode of assessment and the other principles of assessment were not well developed. Knowledge of assessment methods was…