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…

The development and use of educational software for children with severe learning problems are described. The software deals with common conceptual, communicative, and problem-solving problems in this population. It is argued that appropriately structured computer-mediated interaction can result in development and expression of cognitive skills…

The influence of cultural practices on the cognitive development of largely unschooled children was investigated among 23 candy sellers and matched non-vendors between 10- and 12-years-old who resided in northeast Brazil. Findings are interpreted as supporting a model of cognitive development in which children construct novel understandings while…

Nine generalizations on optimal age, first language cognitive development, and second language academic achievement are proposed in order to expand the current theoretical base in second language (L2) acquisition. These generalizations summarize research on L2 acquisition for schooling purposes. (57 references) (Author/VWL)

Investigated egocentricity and ascriptions of knowledge to others in 45 children of 3-6 years. Six-year-olds were better than younger children at assessing the other's knowledge. Subjects were better at assessing the other's knowledge when their own access and knowledge were identical. (RJC)

Reports a study comparing the way children process information about television characters and real peers. Suggests that understanding of both is based on the same construal process, is based on a common set of perceptual dimensions, and is a function of both target characteristics and the common underlying construal system. (JAD)

Preschool children were given a memory task that required repeating a list of animal names and a sentence imitation task. Results confirmed a relationship between word span and language imitation in younger preschool children and the notion of a memory constraint on early spontaneous language. Increasing mastery of linguistic rules appeared to…

Examined relationships among working memory, memory span, and reading skills in children and adults. Found that working memory and short-term memory skills develop through adolescence, but working memory skills show declines in adulthood. Age-related declines in memory appear to be related to the task's processing demands, which may affect the…

Outlines some legal and psychological issues surrounding student groups meeting on public school grounds. Describes two studies designed to measure students' ability to understand equal access policies. Study subjects included students in grades 4, 7, 10, and college undergraduates. (MLF)

Studied effects on nutritional supplementation, with or without psychosocial stimulation, on the development and growth of 129 stunted children compared with 32 nonstunted children. Found that after six months, initially low activity levels of stunted children matched those of nonstunted children, regardless of treatment. Supplementation improved…

Discusses the question of aptitude from within an information-processing perspective, examines how aptitude is conceptualized in this framework, and discusses one possible component of L2 aptitude: working memory. (56 references) (Author/CK)