Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have challenges in reading comprehension, especially when implicit information in narrative texts is involved. Three interrelated factors influencing reading comprehension have been proposed to explain these challenges: Theory of Mind -- ToM; executive functions -- EF; and central coherence -- CC.…

Field independence describes the extent to which individuals are influenced by context when trying to identify embedded targets. It associates with cognitive functioning and is a predictor of academic achievement. However, little is known about the neural and cognitive underpinnings of field independence that lead to these associations. Here, we…

Problem solving is considered a fundamental human skill. However, large-scale assessment of problem solving in K-12 education remains a challenging task. Researchers have argued for the development of an enhanced assessment approach through joint effort from multiple disciplines. In this study, a three-stage approach based on an evidence-centered…

Learning styles are considered to be one of the factors that need to be taken into account in developing adaptive learning systems. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate if students have the ability to choose the best-fit e-learning systems or content presentation styles for themselves in terms of learning style perspective. In…

The object of this exploratory study was to test two hypotheses. The first was that a student's preferential cognitive style, sequential or simultaneous, can negatively affect the imaginative fiction texts that he or she produces. The second hypothesis was that students possessing a sequential or simultaneous preferential cognitive style would…

Reports two experiments which examine how cognitive style interacts with performance on tasks measuring formal thought. (Author/JMB)

Evaluated use of Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) as diagnostic instrument with autistic children. Data from 20 autistic and 20 nonautistic children yielded no significant discriminant function that could differentiate autistic from nonautistic children by K-ABC performance. Findings support use of K-ABC as measure of general…

Compared the performance of learning disabled and normal-achieving third- and fourth-grade children on Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures Test to determine group differences along the impulsivity-reflection dimension. Overall results suggest that learning disabled children are not more impulsive but rather use poor strategic behavior in processing…

Impact of situated cognition on map skill retention and cognitive style effects on learning were studied with 45 fourth graders. Immediate postperformance assessment did not differ for experimental and conventional instruction groups, and conventional instruction groups performed better after delay. Cognitive style affected learning only in the…

Investigated the cognitions of low, moderate, and high test-anxious children under naturalistic test-taking conditions and examined the role of classroom environment in the test anxiety-performance relation. Results indicated high test-anxious children showed more task-debilitating cognitions during testing, including more negative…

Investigates the differential effect of modeling procedures on slow and fast responders' performance on a haptic-visual matching test. Also studies the differential effect of modeling of impulsive v reflective modes of responding, and of model success v model failure. (Author/SS)

The relationship between processing style (either auditory or visual) and sentence and imagery strategies was investigated with a sample of 80 second-grade children. Assignment to auditory- and visual-processor groups was based on subjects' recall of 16 pictograph sequences, four of which included visual interference and four of which included…

This study of problem solving and conceptual tempo had two objectives: (1) to begin to clarify the underlying deficiencies which contribute to the less efficient information processing of impulsive children (as compared with reflective children) during problem solving; and (2) to demonstrate the utility of using a task analysis as a…

Presents a study of the effects of interaction between a child and his mother or an older sibling on the child's object sorting behavior. Other factors studied included sex of sibling and family size. Subjects were 120 first grade children. (BD)

Documents the different problem-solving styles and approaches of two first-grade children having strong mathematical abilities. One child demonstrated an extrinsic, algorithmic style of problem-solving, while the other used an intrinsic, individual-in-control style. (NH)