The hypothesis was that structures built by group members in dealing with conflict and decision making would be contingent on their life styles. Three different sets of groups of persons with homogeneous life styles created three different (and predicted) structures in a problem-solving task. (Author)

Discusses three areas of concern in social studies education for elementary through secondary levels. Areas are (1) the development of thinking skills, (2) the development of articulated K-12 social studies programs, and (3) the need to protect academic freedom while addressing community concerns. (RKM)

The efficacy of an educational intervention in teaching medical students to select optimal diagnostic data consistent with the competing-hypotheses heuristic and Bayes' theorem when solving clinical problems was examined. The results suggest that some problem-solving skills can be enhanced or learned independent of the acquisition of content…

Reports on the positive effect on 400 Venezuelan seventh graders of a course developed to teach cognitive skills that apply to learning and intellectual development. The course stresses observation and classification, reasoning, critical use of language, problem solving, inventiveness, and decision making. (PS)

Examines the extent to which the inability to translate decisionally relevant information into matrix form and knowledge about decision rule use act as impediments to consistent choice-making. Indicates that instruction, in decision matrix construction and decision rule application, increases students' decision making consistency. (JK)

Focuses on career problems and development of women who aspire to the position of school superintendent. Presents a history of female administrators, reviews major barriers to female superintendency, and summarizes three recent studies about females and the position of superintendent. (SRT)

Argues that teachers should lead their students to a broader study of people and their needs. Offers strategies that can be used in social studies classes to help students become aware of crisis situations and how to deal with them. (FL)

Social studies instruction using a variety of data sources engages elementary school children in relatively autonomous collecting, organizing, and evaluating of data--processes necessary for exercising sound judgment and taking appropriate action. (RM)

Good college leadership requires a kind of collaboration, it is argued, and creative collaborative work is the best route towards bold and effective leadership. Defining leadership, leadership models, leadership as problem solving, and leadership as taking a stand are discussed. (MLW)

This simulation is intended to help secondary students better understand the workings of administrative agencies. The setting is an environmental controversy (preservation of a valley as a wilderness area or converting it to a recreation area); however, the general idea can be easily adapted to almost any functioning administrative agency. (RM)

Prescriptive, decision-analysis of medical problem-solving has been based on decision theory that involves calculation and manipulation of complex probability and utility values to arrive at optimal decisions that will maximize patient benefits. The studies offer a methodology for improving clinical judgment. (Author/MLW)

Classroom strategies for helping secondary social studies students develop the following types of creative thinking are suggested: (1) the ability to generate alternative courses of action or alternative solutions in a problem solving situation; (2) the ability to perceive and predict consequences; and (3) the ability to perceive analogies. (RM)

This article focuses on the following areas of group process: the nature of the task group, the steps taken to reach a decision, and the ways in which a leader can effectively manage the inevitable conflict that emerges within groups as the problem-solving process progresses. (CT)

Defines educational overload as the inability of an individual or organization to respond to a problem or situation in an appropriate period of time resulting in distress for the people involved. Recommends strategies for dealing with overload. (FL)

Ways in which to identify the correct problems to solve thereby avoiding the misappropriation of time, talent, and resources are presented. The text is divided into 3 parts: "The Foundation for Smart Thinking,""How to Solve the Right Problems," and "Systems Thinking for the Systems Age." The chapters under these headings are: Chapter 1, "The…