In a 1964 investigation of the effects of age and memory on problem solving, using subjects from age three to age nineteen, it was found that the youngest and oldest subjects performed a three-choice probabilistic task significantly different from the "middle-age" children (7 to 9 years old). The three-choice task was an apparatus with a…

Forty fifth and sixth graders, matched on sex and measures of test anxiety, defensiveness, and IQ, were divided into two groups, each of which solved Porteus maze tasks and a marble puzzle, with and without memory support, respectively. An anxiety-by-memory support interaction occurred in the number of errors made prior to solving the marble…

In the pair of experiments reported here the authors investigated the relationship between meaningfulness of problem statements and subjects' use of these statements in problem-solving tasks. Subjects (96 university students) were required to memorize meaningful formulae such as "volume = area x height" or corresponding symbolic formulae such as…

The effect of games on the development of analytic thinking and problem-solving skills in young children was studied. Eight tasks were constructed, based on Guilford's Structure of Intellect Model, and a variety of commercial games were evaluated for their ability to promote analytic thinking, problem solving, and affective skills. Using students…

Because knowledge of the component subskills of causal reasoning would aid in planning elementary science curricula, this study sought to identify component abilities through the individual administration of a battery of 29 tests to a randomly-selected sample of 84 first-graders, evenly divided by sex. These tests were: (1) verbal tests of…

This investigation gives attention to the developmental course and influence of social class on self-directed, private speech. The Ss were 108 white, middle and lower class pre-school, first and third grade children. Two measures of receptive vocabulary were administered as background language measures. The experimental task required S to sort…

The development of pupil behavior in the process of creative problem solving was investigated. A battery of pretests and post-tests (including written compositions, oral compositions, and open stories) was developed and administered as part of a program to develop cognitive skills. Treatment groups received instruction for 30, 60, or 90 minutes…

A self-controlled problem-solving approach to the facilitation of effective behavior is presented. This approach involves training in the use of a cognitive strategy for dealing with real life problematic situations. An individual will progress through five phases with respect to real or hypothetical problematic situations. The first phase,…

Three modules designed to teach creative problem solving are included. Although prepared for mathematics teachers, the situations used are non-mathematical. The modules are entitled "Application of Deferred Judgment,""Recognizing the Real Problem," and "Developing the Solution." Instructor's guides for all modules are included together with the…

Reported is a study related to a Project on an Information Memory Model in which the performance of children living in two different cultures (Libyan and American) was compared on two problem solving tasks to investigate cultural differences in memory information processing. One task was the chemical bodies experiment studied by Piaget and…

A quasi-systematic strategy of devising rule sets for problem solving is applied to ruler and compass geometrical constructions. "Lower order" rules consisting of basic skills and "higher order" rules which govern the selection and combination of lower order rules are identified by an analysis of problem types; three types of…

The purpose of this book is to help teachers learn about promising materials, methods and techniques for teaching creative thinking and problem solving in their classrooms. Information about teaching methods or techniques which can be readily adapted by the teacher to fit any grade level and subject area are presented. Specific directions on how…

Explored the relationship between knowing how to think and teaching students to think. The findings indicated that development of pupil's intellectual capacities depend on an adequate assimilation of general methods of thinking and that psychology, logic, and pedagogy can today provide the teacher with the technical resources necessary to make…

The conversion model of formal reasoning was examined for its ability to predict the decisions made by college students when solving concrete and abstract syllogisms. Results supported the model's contentions that reasoner's decisions reflect natural language processes in the encoding of syllogistic premises, and follow rationally from…

Research on educable retarded children is reviewed to explicate components of and a theory of intelligence. Studies of control processes in memory and problem solving indicate that the ability to generalize is a major component of intelligence. Research on individual differences in components of information processing systems are also discussed.…