This article is situated within a theoretical framework, "instructional congruence," articulating issues of student diversity with the demands of academic disciplines. In the context of a large-scale study targeting elementary school science, the article describes a research instrument that aims to combine the strengths of both quantitative and…

Except for grade one students, urban and suburban students used similar properties to classify illustrations of bottles containing different amounts of colored liquids. Only in the urban children was there a change in type of property used between grades one and three. (AL)

First graders who had been exposed to the Child-Structured Learning in Science curriculum (CSLS) were compared according to their achievement on a cognitive test instrument to two groups who had not had the CSLS treatment. Results revealed that a greater percentage of children in the CSLS treatment group performed on a concrete-operational level,…

Two postlaboratory discussion strategies (Probing and Nonprobing) were tested for effectiveness on learning science concepts by sixth graders. Similar laboratory experiences were provided to all, but discussion strategies differed. Analysis indicated significantly higher mean gain scores for the Nonprobing strategy group. (PS)

A 2x3x2 factorial design was used to study the effects of sex, verbalization of concepts by students, and information supplied by other students" or teachers" or performance in a multiple classification seriation task by fourth grade students. There was a significant interaction of sex and information source. (AL)

Evaluated is a Science Process Skills test to determine instrument reliability and validity for measuring science inquiry skills of inference and verification. Students involved were fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. Results indicate the instrument is valid, but reliability is low, particulary for the inference subtest. (SL)

This study was designed to determine if experiences in manipulating physical objects could increase classification abilities of deaf students, ages 10 to 13. Goldstein-Sheerer Object Sorting Test forms were used in a pre- and post-test design. Analysis of data revealed increased scores of deaf children in experimental group. (PS)

Forty-five children, ages nine through eleven, were divided into control group and experimental groups that read or wrote hunches concerning a discrepant event involving sliding blocks. Those who generated hunches were shown to learn more in subsequent inquiry behaviors designed to explain the discrepant event. (MLH)

Findings indicate that students whose teachers support their competence to make classroom decisions, compared to students whose teachers do not, are confident and more committed to making classroom decisions. Students in a cooperative learning structure, compared to those in a competitive one, expect enjoyable and productive decision-making…

Seventeen structure-of-intellect (SI) abilities were tested as predictors of success in a Conceptually Oriented Program in Elementary Science (COPES) unit. Three SI abilities involving convergent productive thinking and one involving divergent productive thinking were shown to be significant predictors. (MLH)

Elementary school teachers exposed to a workshop preparing them to use Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) increased the number of higher level (analysis) questions asked in the classroom, although no specific instruction in questioning techniques was given. The older teachers tended to ask lower level (recall) questions. (AL)

Two British elementary classes were taught chemistry by either Scheme A, involving the idea of chemical reactions as combination or decomposition, or Scheme B, the Nuffield inductive method utilizing heat and weight changes. Test results showed that Class A performed significantly better. (MLH)

Reports on a replication study to determine the relative effectiveness of two methods of instruction in teaching classificatory concepts and to determine whether maturity of children was related to level of understanding. (GS)

This study investigated whether the familiarity of an object observed by an individual influences his responses on observation and comparison tasks. Results indicated no significant differences between the number of observations of ordinary objects and the number of observations of novel objects. (MLH)