This report presents a general framework for studying the acquisition and cognitive representation of biomedical concepts and analyzing the nature and development of misconceptions. The central approach of the report is a selective and highly concentrated analysis of the true nature of clusters of complex concepts and the manner in which they are…

Over the past several years, one study after another has uncovered a positive relationship between interpersonal interaction and individual achievement. According to a handful of these studies, interaction is more effective than are individually-based strategies for promoting reasoning. We give our attention here to the link that possibly exists…

Conceptual obstacles which inhibit scientific understanding are examined in this monograph. Perspectives are offered on theoretical aspects, research directions, and educational implications on the problem area known as the critical barriers phenomenon. Papers included are: "Nature of the Problem" (by David Hawkins), which describes the…

Theory and research background regarding the teaching of concepts are presented. Procedures are given in detail on how a concept can be analyzed in order to aid in teaching and preparing instructional materials. Nine processes of science drawn from a published elementary science curriculum ("Science: A Process Approach") are treated as concepts…

Listening is a crucial element in the communication process. To date, however, research efforts have been unsuccessful in identifying the proper role that listening should play in the building of communication theory. To be a legitimate part of the communication process, listening must be placed in a conceptual framework similar to those found in…

A 3-MONTH STATUS REPORT WAS MADE ON THE ACTIVITIES PURSUED IN PHASE 1 OF A LARGER 10-YEAR PROJECT DEALING WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN TRANSFER OF TRAINING. REPORTS OF ONGOING PROJECTS AND THEIR CURRENT STATUS WERE PRESENTED. THEY INCLUDED (1) A STUDY OF THE TRANSFER EFFECTS OF WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO TASK PERFORMANCE…

THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AUDITORY AND VISUAL FUNCTIONING AND READING ACHIEVEMENT WERE EXPLORED. AN ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO INVESTIGATE THE INFLUENCE OF DEVELOPMENTAL FACTORS ON THESE VARIABLES. A WIDE RANGE OF AUDITORY AND VISUAL SKILLS WAS SAMPLED IN POOR AND NORMAL READERS AT THREE DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS (FIRST, THIRD, AND FIFTH). DATA…

This paper briefly reviews the literature concerning the Paiget-Burner debate over the roles of identify and reversibility rules in conservation acquisition, and describes an experiment designed to determine whether one group of rules is more closely related to conservation than the other. A group of children, aged 4-6 years, received tests of…

The paired-associate learning of 52 fourth graders was related to measures of cognitive ability obtained the previous year. Subjects were administered the paired-associate task under one of three variations: at a comfortable rate with standard instructions; at a comfortable rate with a potentially effective learning strategy (visual imagery); and…

Studies of the teaching and learning process provide the basis for this research. The emphasis is on the nature of the tutorial interaction during the learning of complex material, with the eventual goal of being able to construct an automated, computer- controlled tutorial system. An active structural network (a type of semantic network) was used…

This study investigated a problem within the theoretical structure of cognitive development proposed by Jean Piaget, and used the concepts of classification and projective spatial relationships to investigate the nature of attainment and sequencing of three corresponding logical and infralogical groupings according to the models proposed by…

Fifty educable retarded children who were determined to be nonconservers by means of three conservation pretests (discontinuous quantity, correspondence, and continuous quantity) were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups (discontinuous quantity training, correspondence training, continuous quantity training, control, and control…

This paper reviews and analyzes research in science education which focused on science concepts and science concept learning. Studies reviewed are grouped into eight categories: (1) cognitive development, (2) factors influencing concept formation, (3) level of concept attainment, (4) methodological effects, (5) methodological comparisons, (6)…

This study examined the effectiveness of the Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) materials for visually handicapped children. Fourteen students, ranging in age from 9 to 19 and working in small groups with student teachers, received science instruction using the adapted version of the SCIS program. Control subjects were matched closely on…

The research experiments on relational learning in young children contained in this report were guided by two major goals: (1) to examine the extent of conceptual transfer in preschool children, and (2) to explore the relation of both "acquisition" and "transfer" to chronological development. The performance of preschool…