Presented is a study in which students' intellectual reasoning development was evaluated following instruction that emphasized formal operations in a traditional lecture format. Results indicated that formal-operational students had significantly more success in the three reasoning areas than transitional students and transitional students had…

Reports on a study intended to compare the effects of two methods of instruction designed to teach preservice elementary teachers to acquire and retain integrated science process skills. Results indicated that the self-instructional method was significantly more effective than the teacher-directed method. (TW)

This was an experiment to test the extended discretion laboratory approach versus a guided-inquiry approach for teaching biology in a university setting. Among three criterion variables (examination, reports, and quizzes), only the laboratory report scores showed differences between groups and group-by-instructor interaction. (Author/YP)

Reported is a study which investigated reasons responsible for the lack of enthusiasm among junior high teachers in implementing a new biology curriculum in Israel. Identified variables related to high expectations set at the ideal level, the greater role given to verbalization, and mechanical or routine implementation approaches. (ML)

Presents data indicating that learning can be enhanced when information is presented that illustrates how science information can be used to solve problems. The experiments showed positive results through use of video-based macro-contexts. (ML)

Reports on a study designed to focus on staff development delivery variables in the context of science teacher workshops. Data suggest that 8 to 16 hours is a minimum amount of time for staff development if teachers are to implement new strategies into their science classrooms. (TW)

After proposing and defining the superordinate concept of "historicality," fundamental interrelationships between time, events, memory, meaning, personal knowledge, public knowledge, and the histories of science are explored. Relevant research findings that demonstrate the confluence of scholarly thought concerning historicality across…

Reports on a study designed to compare the effects of two instructional treatments in which the experimental treatment emphasized self-management, goal clarification, and individualized course expectations. An increase in science locus of control was found to be significant for the experimental group. (TW)

Explores the nature of explanations used by 20 middle school science teachers utilizing the constant comparative analysis method in analyzing transcripts of classroom discourse. Discusses a subsuming categorical framework for the 10 types of explanations generated, along with examples of each type, namely: analogical, anthropomorphic, functional,…

Identifies two stages in research on scientific literacy; a composite saturation stage in which definitions covered all objects of science education, and a stage when researchers focused on small manageable portions of scientific literacy. Describes formal, nonformal, and informal science teaching. (TW)

Discussed is the conceptualization, development, and formative evaluation of a series of science education videodiscs. The formative data indicated that videodisc programs can enhance the effectiveness of teachers and substantively impact student achievement and attitudes. (Author/CW)

Examined is the influence and developmental nature of science processes. Results indicated that a one-semester process skills course was effective in developing a basis for science content acquisition. Additional gains can be obtained in an extended curricular sequence. (Author/CW)

The research reported in this study was done to evaluate the understandings developed by students who meet science concepts through a textbook. Findings indicated that concrete concepts were better understood by eighth grade students than formal concepts and that students achieved some understanding of some formal concepts. (CW)

Results of 11 studies of classroom practices used with activity-based elementary science programs were combined quantitatively using a composite category system. One finding reported is that teachers trained in program use spent less time talking and more on activities than untrained teachers using the programs. (Author/JM)

Reports on a study which investigated the effect of instructional objectives on seventh grade students' attitudes toward science. Results indicated that students in the integrated science program had better attitudes than those receiving traditional instruction. (TW)