A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM RESEARCH COORDINATING UNIT WAS DEVELOPED TO COORDINATE, ENCOURAGE, AND ASSIST IN THE PREPARATION OF STUDIES TO IMPROVE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. INITIAL TASKS INVOLVED COMPILATION OF VOCATIONAL RESEARCH, IDENTIFICATION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES, ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM AREAS,…

The purpose of this study was to develop a paper-pencil test of Piagetian levels of proportional thinking for junior high school students in the context of physical science. Two thousand twenty-seven students were tested to develop the instrument and the description of its characteristics. The final form consisted of 24 items with four subtests…

Forty-eight middle-income children, equally divided as to sex, looked at a sequence of animated films in which a pair of male figures underwent a change in facial affect. Three questions were posed: (1) Could a qualitative-structural analysis be applied to the kinds of explanations given by the children to account for changes in facial affect? (2)…

A major premise of Piagetian theory relative to the periods of concrete and formal operations is that competence in specific logical operations is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite to competence in other specific logical operations. The present study tested for the existence of specific concrete operations and specific formal operations…

A group of perceptual and motor tests were administered to 155 advantaged and disadvantaged student. The results are discussed in terms of differential perceptual-motor and motor growth and need to structure educational experience that will contribute to growth. (Author)

This public lecture, delivered in Nyack, New York in October 2002, concerns parents role in middle school education reform. The lecture identifies perceived and actual problems in middle school education related to student achievement and teacher preparation. The lecture maintains that although the facts are certainly of concern, most parents have…

This paper examines the possibility of accelerating the development of intelligence when applying stringent Piagetian standards to evaluate the effects of short- and long-term intervention or instruction programs. The paper reviews previous Genevan and American research that shows that development can be accelerated by means of only a few…

Jean Piaget's belief that children's developmental levels largely determine what they can learn is challenged. Research concerning the existence of cognitive structures in children is critiqued, and problems with administering Piagetian tasks are pointed out. Educators should not restrict children's exposure to learning because, according to…

Explored was the relationship between performance and gender for junior- and senior-high students (N=108) on six Piagetian-type tasks developed to measure infralogical spatial groupings. Results indicated a significant relationship between performance and gender on four tasks, in which males outscored females. Implications for science teaching are…

Describes the Student Developmental Task Inventory (SDTI-2) which assesses the level of student development in terms of autonomy, purpose, and intimate relationships. The development, reliability, and validity of the SDTI-2 are discussed; student uses are suggested. (RC)

Describes and discusses the rule-assessment approach, a new research strategy for studying developmental sequences in children's acquisition of knowledge. Four experiments were conducted to illustrate the utility of this approach across a variety of concepts and a wide range of ages (three-year-olds to college students). (Author/CM)

Classroom meetings are an important way to meet the demand of developmental guidance that guidance and counseling "is for all kids." Classroom meeting experiences help students cope and deal with their lives by providing opportunities for self-awareness and self-affirmation. (Author)

The first in a two-part series on male college student development looks at a significant issue for many young men, lack of relationship with a father, and its effect on their journey to manhood. Specific recommendations are made for adults working effectively with young adult men in this context, and areas for further study are highlighted. (MSE)

Four hundred twenty-four families who resided in inner-city neighborhoods and had a child entering 1st grade were randomly assigned to a control condition or to a family-focused preventive intervention combined with academic tutoring. SAFEChildren, which was developed from a developmental-ecological perspective, emphasizes developmental tasks and…

Eight Latino lesbian and gay (LG) youth were interviewed for this descriptive qualitative study. The purpose of this study was to examine the Latino LG youth career development process and to increase our understanding of how multiple identities intersect with each other and the career development process. Six themes emerged: knowing you are…