The paper discusses an elementary spring model representing the motion of a magnet suspended from the ceiling at one end of a vertical spring which is held directly above a second magnet fixed on the floor. There are two cases depending upon the north-south pole orientation of the two magnets. The attraction or repelling force induced by the…

This article takes a critical look at administrative decision making in schools and the extent to which complex decisions conform to normative models and common expectations of rationality. An alternative framework for administrative decision making is presented that is informed, but not driven, by theories of rationality. The framework assumes…

Research on communication with infants, including newborns, has demonstrated that imitations in great variety play many different parts, and with emotions of interest and pleasure. Matching another's actions may seek attention and provoke reply, accept or reject advances, express admiration or mockery. It seems best to regard imitating as one way…

This report focuses on prospective secondary mathematics teachers' understanding of irrational numbers. Various dimensions of participants' knowledge regarding the relation between the two sets, rational and irrational, are examined. Three issues are addressed: richness and density of numbers, the fitting of rational and irrational numbers on the…

This article examines the role of intuition and/or analysis cognitive styles and approaches to studying in business education. The Cognitive Style Index (CSI) and Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (RASI) were administered to 222 American undergraduate business students. The authors found a relationship between analytic orientation and grade…

Intuition is knowledge of something without the conscious use of reasoning. The question of where intuitive knowledge comes from may be addressed from neurophysiological, spiritual, or philosophical perspectives. In some cases, hunches may be traced to the unconscious processing of immediate sensory input with previous knowledge. In other cases,…

Teachers concerned about excessive testing may be depriving themselves of useful information provided by standardized achievement tests and their own exams. Teachers tend to separate testing from teaching. This article explores the relationship among data collection, curriculum planning, and instruction and gauges the impacts of mandated…

Provides perspectives on the process of perceiving another person while interacting with that person. Offers a social interaction approach in contrast to previous approaches that treat the perceiver as a passive information processor. Proposes that each person constructs a significant part of the social reality that one confronts. (ML)

A test-retest study of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator with 99 graduate students over 20 months yields findings consistent with previous studies, but an examination of type dynamics using log-linear analyses indicates that dominant thinking and dominant sensing do not retest as well as dominant intuition and feeling. (SLD)

Changing one's mind and keeping the mind open will be essential decision-making skills in the future. Positive uncertainty helps clients deal with ambiguity, accept inconsistency, and use the intuitive side of choosing. (TE)

Presents a technique for introducing analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the concrete level of operational thought, enabling students in introductory statistics courses to understand the complex correlations and interactions between variables. Helps students develop an intuitive understanding of the concepts of between- and within-groups variance and…

Examined how children's and adults' initial conceptions of objects and space influence predictions about the physical world, but lead the naive person to misconstrue a dynamic event. Found that participants proficiently anticipated where an oscillating screen would contact a hidden object, but underestimated the distance until contact.…

Comments on the blending by Dean, in her article in this issue, of Loewald's instinctual-affective component with the developmental models of Piaget and Vygotsky, with internalization as the pivotal concept. Suggests that Dean's synthesis mirrors development itself, as it first differentiates and then integrates the work of the three theorists.…

Originally written near the beginning of the "new math" movement, this article reflects on the role of student discovery, intuition, mathematics as an analytic language, and the problem of student readiness. (MKR)

Communication with staff can be improved if the variability in information processing preferences is accommodated. Communication based on cognitive style can increase the probability of follow-through while reducing misunderstanding and potential conflict. The Jungian definition of cognitive style is most widely used; the Myers Briggs Type…