Identified some of the misconceptions held by secondary science students (N=232) related to selected ecological concepts and generalizations. Lists the alternative conceptions expressed by these students on food chains and energy flows and pyramids. Offers perspectives on dealing with the sources of the misconceptions. (ML)

Examines hypotheses and strategies used by children at the kindergarten, second-, fourth- and sixth-grade levels in making proportional judgements. The task involved 36 trials in which the child had to choose between two groups to obtain a target-color "chip." Results generally conformed to the developmental sequence proposed by Piaget…

Offers a set of lesson plans that use simple semantic word maps to help students improve their vocabulary knowledge and comprehension in all subject areas. (FL)

Examines the effect of refutation text structure (text that contrasts correct ideas with incorrect ones) on students' misconceptions of Newtonian mechanics, noting that refutation text is efffective in getting students to change their prior misconceptions. Also suggests two ways to help students abandon misconceptions that are not refuted in a…

Investigates the effects of question type (general or specific) and question position (prior to or following writing) upon measures of conceptual elaboration in writing. Results indicate that writers can benefit from questions following initial writing that enhance conceptual elaboration of base-level ideas during writing revision. (HOD)

Reports findings of a study on children's perceptions and alternate conceptions about the human circulatory system. Summarizes the responses of fifth and eighth grade students on questions dealing with the heart and blood. Offers examples of hands-on activities and confrontation strategies that address common misconceptions on circulation. (ML)

Analyzes multiplication word problems to identify the origin of children's difficulty. Emphasis is given to problems involving the concept of combination. (JN)

Ontological knowledge is reflected in a communicator's ability to describe, predict, and explain human behavior. This study explores the nature of ontological or social knowledge and its association with communication competence. (PD)

Provides guidelines for conducting and interpreting interviews aimed at assessing the cognitive concepts of young children. Discusses the content, task, questions, and format of the interview, listing 16 points of advice for interviewers. Also elaborates on the value and use of structured interviews. (JM)

Examines the treatment of Native Americans in 34 elementary social studies textbooks on the adopted textbook list in Virginia. Explains how ten basic concepts are covered, what evaluative terms are used to describe Native Americans, and how Native Americans are treated in pictures in the texts. (SB)

Investigated relationships and sequence of acquisition among seven gender concepts and extent to which cognitive maturity is related to them. Study of 60 preschool children found that gender concepts improve with age, are similar in both sexes, and are related to one another and to some aspects of cognitive maturity. (Author/ML)

Discusses children's conceptions of dynamics, comparing them to those of scientists and examining how they are acquired. Also discusses alternative aims of teaching dynamics at the elementary and junior high school levels, providing instructional strategies to achieve these aims. (JN)

Discusses the use of the Bank Street Laboratory sound probe in activities focusing on various aspects of sound. Also examines what students were learning during the activities (such as students understanding what is meant by the pitch of a tone). (JN)

A review of the essentials of ability formation theory is followed by a review of recent research relevant to the question of how students develop conceptions of their abilities. The ways in which ability formation theory may be refined on the basis of recent findings regarding classroom process are discussed. (PN)

Provides examples of science activities in which children use their senses in manipulating objects and ideas. Suggests that these and other activities be extended to help children deepen their understanding of scientific concepts. (JN)