The processes of photosynthesis and respiration are basic to the understanding of many other aspects and functions of biological systems. Because of their curricular significance, these processes served as the focal point in an investigation of student conceptions and instructional effectiveness. In this study, students in a college nonscience…

Abstracts of two symposium papers are provided, giving: (1) the results of a study of the effect of child-rearing practices on the cognitive development of children under 5 years of age in Jakarta; and (2) the results of an investigation of West German preschool children's preferences and abilities in relation to conceptual styles. Comparing 100…

The focus of this document is on students' understanding of symbolization processes in algebra, and specifically their understanding of semantically laden letters. In the first four sections, four inappropriate ways in which many college students use semantically laden letters are described. Evidence from clinical interview protocols demonstrate…

Although the role that empathy plays in communication transactions is an important one, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding that term as it is used in the field of communication. Empathy may be best defined as a process consisting of 3 stages: (1) decentering, which requires a shift in focus or multiple perspectives; (2) role-taking,…

The main purpose of this study was to trace the development of children's awareness that they can learn and to describe the forms of their ideas of learning. A complementary aim was to account for the extent to which such conceptions can be found at different levels of development. The investigation consisted of two observational studies and a…

The combined methods of observation and interview were used in a study examining how English teachers conceptualize instruction in literature. Nine high school English teachers from two midwest, suburban high schools served as the subjects. In the first two meetings, the teachers were informed that two people would be observing and taping one of…

A review of a multimedia program for children aged 3 to 8 years, which is designed to introduce new concepts and stimulate cognitive development. (Author)

Emphasizes the point of view that the teaching of science should not be postponed until children are mature enough to deal with abstract scientific concepts but that a wide variety of concrete experience facilitates the development of a scientific way of thinking. (PEB)

Reported is a study to verify the pattern of bias associated with the Model Identification Test and to determine its source. This instrument is a limited verbal science test designed to determine the knowledge possessed by elementary school children of selected concepts related to "the particle nature of matter." (PEB)

Uses and explains the Piagetian model to provide a conceptual framework for a discussion of intellectual growth in relation to science education and points out inadequacies of the model. (PEB)

A case study of the period of repetitive babbling in one Dutch infant is reported. Repetitive babbling is seen as a systematic and continuous process, during which the child is applying certain strategies in order to form concepts concerning the possibilities of his or her articulatory apparatus. Strategies identified are: (1) variation…

This study explored the relationship between children's sense of justice for a criminal offender and their cognitive level. Subjects were 60 children, 10 boys and 10 girls at each of the following developmental or cognitive levels: preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each child was individually pretested for cognitive…

This paper reports on research carried out in Sweden on concept formation as related to science education. Particular emphasis is given to the aquisition of the concepts of proportionality and density by tenth-grade students. Comparisons were made of the student's everyday thoughts about density and their ability to understand the Cartesian Diver…