Social and ethnic differences in moral judgment are examined, and a critique of the cognitive-developmental model is presented in this paper. In opposition to Piaget and Kohlberg, the thesis advanced is that morality and moral development are culturally and socially determined constructs. While Piaget postulated the presence of qualitatively…

Evidence points to a pervasive tendency for persons to behave to maintain their existing cognitive structures. One strategy by which this self-verification is made more probable involves information processing. Through attention, encoding and retrieval, and the interpretation of events, persons process information so that self-confirmatory…

A number of college students in forensic debate may be deterred from debating broad topics due to a lack of appropriate cognitive development and a perception of unacceptable certainty. These students have failed to develop formal thinking patterns because they lack reinforcing experiences in reasoning at that level. A sequenced pattern of…

How the computer as a metaphor affects our understanding of the processes of learning and teaching is explored. After describing reflection and recursion in mathematics and their roles in thinking and learning, models of the mind and teaching effects are discussed, with self-awareness as a theme. (MNS)

Reports concepts which 12th-grade physics students hold about motion before and after a lecture is given. Compares quantitative and qualitative research methodology and describes some responses to test items. Shows six questions, student responses, and typical incorrect explanations used by students. (YP)

First-, third-, and fifth-grade students saw matters involving intellectual conventions and personal preference as more variable across time and space than matters involving logic and physical laws. Furthermore, intellectual conventions were seen as legitimately changeable by social consensus and school authorities, but not on the basis of…

This study examined the effectiveness of a simple browse search strategy and a more complex analytical strategy with 25 high school students, using an electronic full-text encyclopedia. Captured keystrokes and student essays were analyzed for retrieval performance and information application. No significant differences between types of search…

This study investigated whether differences existed between novice and experienced high school teachers in their recall and analysis of problem events during interactive teaching. Results are described. Implications for teacher educators are discussed. (Author/MT)

Analyzes writing samples of 22 first graders and 13 second graders to determine how children learn the rules of punctuation. Finds they develop necessary hypotheses which are alternative to the standard end-sentence period placement rule. Suggests young "language scientists" need opportunities to practice this innate trade: rule formation. (NH)

Examines the role of human information processing and decision-making capabilities and limitations in the design of effective human-computer interfaces. Several cognitive engineering principles that should guide the design process are outlined. (48 references) (Author/CLB)

Reports on a study in which clinical interviews were conducted with three elementary school children to determine the extent to which they held naive misconceptions about important biological topics, and to determine agewise trends in the development of biological knowledge. (TW)

Examines a general developmental hypothesis concerned with children's understanding of perceptual experience, memory, intentions, and emotions. It is hypothesized that young children view the mind as passive in relation to the external world and regard external events as determining subjective experience, whereas older children know many ways that…

Examines the relationship between two measures of individual differences in social cognition and the quality of eleventh grade students' persuasive writing. Indicates a significant relationship between interpersonal cognitive complexity, abstractness, and quality of writing, persuasiveness, appropriateness of tone, and level of persuasive strategy…

Based on reanalyses of correlational data obtained from the University of Southern California Aptitudes Research Project, this investigation examined the extent to which two higher order factors of semantic content and symbolic content form Guilford's structure-of-intellect model reflected distinct constructs. (Author/LMO)

Provides evidence for the utility of schema-based frameworks which assume that schemas and scripts organize information, aid in comprehension, and guide information retrieval. (FL)