PIAGET'S THEORETICAL FORMULATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSERVATION OF CONTINUOUS QUANTITY WAS EXAMINED. CONTROL SUBJECTS IN EACH OF TWO AGE GROUPS (5 AND 6 YEARS) WERE GIVEN A COMPLEX TASK SITUATION THAT IS TYPICAL OF PIAGET'S WORK. THESE SUBJECTS WERE ALSO GIVEN ANOTHER TASK, A MEASURE OF CONSERVATION OF QUANTITY THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF PIAGET'S…

Examples from some area tasks indicate that misconceptions about linear measurement can be carried over to area measurement; children will occasionally count points rather than length units or area units. (MP)

An example is used to illustrate the four levels: rote, observational, insightful, and formal. (MP)

This paper describes six experiments performed to investigate elementary school childrens' understanding of a proportionality concept, the concept of fullness. (CM)

In two studies, preschoolers and second graders were tested on their understanding that members of a category have similar parts. Children in both studies drew many inferences concerning the internal structure of objects in basic-level categories. Suggests that preschool children assume that basic-level categories share internal parts. (RJC)

Discusses case presentation approach as mechanism for improving case conceptualization skills. Describes case presentation as dealing with three conceptualization tasks: (1) identifying and differentiating how observations and inferences provide evidence for clinical judgments; (2) describing components of counseling relationship; and (3)…

Examined whether representational changes in digit memory are functions of children's expertise in mental abacus operation when abacus operators reproduced series of digits forward or backward. Found skilled operators equally facile with forward and backward reproduction, but novices slower going backward. Suggests advanced operators apply their…

An account of studies conducted by author and others concerning Piaget's view of object concept development in infants. (HS)

This ERIC Digest concerns the constructed knowledge (also called nave knowledge or prior conceptions) held by students and the changes required to alter students' framework to understand and believe the true science concepts involved. This process is called conceptual change. Theoretical framework of conceptual change, what exactly is conceptual…

Cognitive conflict has been used as an effective teaching method since the 1980s, although the effects of this method are unclear. According to some researchers, cognitive conflict does not consistently lead to conceptual change. This paper describes a study investigating answers for the questions, What is the definition of cognitive conflict in…

Conservation in congenitally blind, blindfolded and sighted elementary school students indicated the order of acquisition of various types of conservation was constant. (ST)

Analysis of Old Times on the Mississippi," an autobiographical piece that reveals Twain's effort to understand the process that enables a man to grow emotionally and intellectually." (Author/SP)

Describes a pilot project with two objectives: 1) to develop measures of curiosity and exploration applicable to preschool children, and 2) to investigate the relationship between variations in exploratory behavior and other aspects of emotional and cognitive growth. (WY)

Teaching methods that guide pupils' mental activity and encourage them to employ rational thinking techniques are described. (DB)