Language disorders in mentally retarded children may be assessed by standardized tests, developmental scales, and informal procedures. The processes to be assessed include comprehension, production, and use in communication. In the assessment of a child, these processes should be related to chronological age and to cognitive development. (CTM)

Compares the value of constructive criticism for older and younger children's artwork. Examines the effect that criticism has upon both age groups to learn whether the criticism is well received or damaging to further student effort. (Author/RK)

The concept of evolutionary life cycles should become an integral part of a job placement process. The college educational process should be the beginning of a lifetime of learning and earning and not be viewed as a point of departure into an unknown work world. (Author)

Primary school children at different stages of acquisition of conservation pretended that their judgments on a series of conservation problems were the opposite of their actual beliefs. The nonconservers and transitional conservers made significant gains in conservation, while the conservers did not regress. Cognitive dissonance training is…

This study uses a search task to investigate the development of word superiority effects in visual perception. Subjects are kindergarten, second and fourth grade children, and college students. (CM)

Investigates the development of the concept of heat by children aged four to nine. Analysis revealed 11 thought patterns classified into six categories underlying children's concept of heat. These categories are related to scientific knowledge of the physics of heat. (HM)

When the descriptive interpretations that sixth and eighth graders provided for metaphors selected from fifth-grade readers were examined in a Piagetian framework, the poorest interpretations showed characteristics of concrete and pre-operational thought, while the best interpretations showed characteristics of formal operational thought. (RL)

Evidence is provided for gradual age (and, seemingly, cognitive developmental) changes in the acquisition of complex problem solving strategies. Differential performance as a function of exposure to a child-model exhibiting the best strategy also suggests the role of learning in strategy acquisition. (Author/MV)

As an example, two aspects of children's conservation are explained: decalages and the shift from perceptual to quantitative cues. This approach, relative to structuralist formulation, involves cognitive factors such as prior learning, as well as impinging social experience. It is compatible with Piaget's theory, yet simpler and more flexible. (CP)

The author clarifies common misunderstanding about the theory that social learning is concerned with shaping of children's moral behavior through differential reinforcement, which portrays children as mere mimics of socialization agents. Social learning is defined in relation to the cognitive developmental approach to moral development and its…

After a review of the book "Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life," by Gail Sheehy, the author presents a lesson plan designed to help students become aware of adult developmental tasks and stresses. (MF)

Shows that shifts in children's organizing behaviors occur relatively independently of changes in ability. (RL)

Development of the competent self, the interrelationship of psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational change, and the role of the high school counselor were explored with 147 exemplary and marginal students. The impact of counseling was significantly different for exemplary than for marginal students and for students from different race and sex…