The article asserts that books on tape with sound illustrations (accurate narrative descriptions of graphics and photos) and tactile books stimulate visually impaired and blind children to better understand the physical world. (Author/DB)

The use of taxonomic scales to assess the level of student cognitive development and thinking skills, and to structure instruction is discussed. One instructor's method is presented. Perry's taxonomy is graphically illustrated. Sources for five assessment instruments are listed. (CW)

Presented is a study in which students' intellectual reasoning development was evaluated following instruction that emphasized formal operations in a traditional lecture format. Results indicated that formal-operational students had significantly more success in the three reasoning areas than transitional students and transitional students had…

Presented is a criticism of Lawson's (1988) article on the development of misconceptions of biological concepts. Lawson's response to this criticism follows. (CW)

Prescriptions for improving student understanding and problem-solving performance related to transmission genetics are discussed. Research on novice/expert problem-solving in transmission genetics is reviewed. (Author/CW)

A stratified random sample of 82 subjects, from 4 to 25 years of age, was used to examine relationships between intransitivity of paired-comparison relationships and age of subjects. Results indicate a floor level, at 6 to 7 years of age, below which response intransitivity increases significantly. (TJH)

Current efforts to promote issues-based education in elementary and secondary schools will not succeed unless educators know what issues-based education is, why it is an important part of education, and how to include it in the curriculum. (Author)

Discusses developmentally appropriate activities for teaching counting skills for kindergarten and early first-grade programs. Describes four activities: (1) counting on; (2) counting back; (3) auditory patterning; and (4) visual patterning based on the 10-frame. (YP)

The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure for the evaluation of M-demand of chemistry problems. It was shown that dimensional analysis upon the Neo-Piagetian theory of Pascual-Leone could help science teachers to understand the epistemological basis of their discipline. (CW)

Findings are examined from studies published from 1980 to the present concerning the effects of peer tutoring on mathematics performance. Findings indicate the effectiveness of peer tutoring in promoting significant cognitive gains for both the tutor and the tutee with populations of low achievers, mildly handicapped, or socially disadvantaged…

Challenges the view that the cognitive-developmental level of preschool children prevents them from attaining gender constancy. Reviews shortcomings in procedures previously used to assess gender constancy. Reports on a study which uses a new measure of gender constancy and a new test of children's genital knowledge. (PCB)

Infants' habituation and mothers' encouragement of attention were assessed at 5 months. Toddlers' language comprehension, language production, and pretense play, and mothers' encouragement of attention, were assessed at 13 months. Examined the contributions of infant habituation and maternal stimulation to toddlers' cognitive abilities. (PCB)

The results of survey of secondary school biology students used to access misconceptions about cells are presented. A distinction between conceptions, misconceptions, and nonconceptions is drawn in terms of secondary school biology concepts. The resilience of misconceptions is discussed. (CW)

Investigated 60 parents' perceptions of influence of their eldest child's (aged 4, 7, or 10 years) development and the extent to which these perceptions varied as a function of five factors. Cognitive and social development were significant variables for beliefs about influence. (RJC)

Investigates 14-year-old students' ability to recognize argumentation without having systematic instruction; and whether the identification of argumentation is an independent skill. Finds that after a 20-minute explanation, a large proportion of 14-year-olds could not identify simple argumentation. Concludes that identifying argumentation is a…