Investigates the effectiveness of utilizing analogies to effect conceptual change in students' alternative-probability concepts. Results indicate that analogies can be effective in producing desired conceptual change in high school students' probability concepts. (Author/CCM)

Maintains that Madole and Oakes' hypotheses are incorrect. Shows that conceptual development frequently goes from the abstract to the concrete and that extensive literature shows that there is more than one kind of categorization. Discusses ways in which perceptual and conceptual categorization differ. (Author/KB)

Four studies assessed a cognitive explanation for development of infants' preference for attractive faces: cognitive averaging and preferences for mathematically averaged faces, or prototypes. Findings indicated that adults and 6-month olds prefer prototypical, mathematically averaged faces and that 6-month olds can abstract the central tendency…

The Gay and Lesbian Affirmative Development model, a proactive, gay-affirmative counseling approach, is proposed. Parallels are drawn between Cass's Homosexual Identity Formation model and Ivey's cognitive-behavioral Developmental Counseling Therapy model to help counselors assess and facilitate gay and lesbian clients' cognitive development…

Three studies explored the scope of preschoolers' teleological tendency to view entities as "designed for purposes." Found that preschoolers, unlike adults, tend to attribute functions to all kinds of objects. Both children and adults predominantly viewed an object's function as the activity it was designed to perform. (Author/KB)

Explores giftedness from infancy to adolescence within a psychodynamic developmental framework. Gifted development is discussed in terms of drive, ego functions, object relations, and self-experience. Also discussed are the history of giftedness, gifted infants and preschoolers, gifted school-age children, and giftedness in male and female…

Examined preschool children's self-management as they engaged in a literacy task of constructing an "autonomous" text for others to read. Analyzed texts for their holistic quality, and identified metacognitive utterances surrounding the texts, which showed the development of metacognition and its indications for preschoolers. (JPB)

Four experiments compared 4-year-olds' understanding of pretense to that of 3-year-olds or adults. When shown pictured items, 4-year-olds understood that only animates pretend, but 3-year-olds sometimes claimed that inanimates pretend. When shown actual items, even 4-year-olds sometimes claimed that inanimates pretend, especially when adults…

Two studies examined understanding of notational representation among 3- to 5-year-olds. Children solved problems when shown cards with a picture or word indicating identity or a quantity indicator. In the easier condition, children had difficulty solving the problems as a function of their familiarity with the notation, suggesting weaknesses in…

Three experiments investigated whether 4-month-olds would attend to and utilize the global configuration ("good form") of a partly occluded, moving object to perceive its unit and coherence behind the occluder. Results indicated that curvature per se provided information in support of completion, in addition to global configuration and…

Three experiments investigated children's understanding of inference as a knowledge source. Most 4- to 6-year-olds did not rate a puppet as more certain of a toy's color after the puppet looked at the toy or inferred its color than they did after the puppet guessed the color. Most 8- and 9-year-olds distinguished inference and looking from…

Synthesizes six theories of cognitive development in college students, provides a method for intentional informal assessment, and presents information on applying cognitive development theory in practice. Warns that cognitive development alone will not fully illuminate or adequately explain the developmental journey of college students as their…

Argues that there is a social-cognitive and a social-perceptual component to a theory of mind. Presents as evidence three studies comparing children with Williams syndrome to children with Prader-Willi syndrome, and to children with nonspecific mental retardation. The findings suggest that only social-perceptual components of theory of mind, which…

Presents a review of several common emotional and developmental challenges faced by African American female college students who attend predominantly White colleges and universities. Suggests that these challenges can be addressed through programs that promote these students' psychological growth and maturity. Outlines a cognitive-developmental…

Investigates the influence of socio-affective context on the interactive modalities surrounding problem-solving discussions conducted with 8-year-old children. Results suggests that reciprocal friendship facilitates collaboration and the organization of collective work. Discusses two rival hypotheses of socio-affective proximity and…