Examined when and how children distinguished deductive and inductive problems. Found that by fourth grade, confidence ratings for deductive problems were higher than those for inductive problems, and responses were faster. Explanations differed as a function of the type of problem. (MOK)

Compared the attention patterns of 40 toddlers and their mothers with or without dysphoric symptoms in a situation that allowed both common and independent foci of attention. Found that dysphoric mothers appeared to attend to an event in common with their children less frequently than did nondysphoric mothers. (MOK)

Notes as students become more diverse, establishing a comfortable, challenging classroom in which every student feels valued becomes more difficult. Maintains teachers may be able to minimize problems and maximize learning by shifting to a more parental perspective and making the classroom an "academic home." As students share in…

Discussion of information visualization and computer graphics focuses on a study that contrasted performance in three dimensional (3D) and two dimensional zooming interactively (2.5D) virtual worlds for people with differing levels of spatial and structure learning ability. Suggests implications of individual differences for the usability and…

Investigated the metacognitive development of a group of students in a course aiming to develop deep approaches and conceptual understanding. Found considerable diversity in the approaches used by students, and also in the degrees to which those not initially using a conceptual (deep) approach were able to develop this approach. (EV)

Discusses the branching structure of hypermedia that can accommodate individual learning differences. Highlights include interactivity; self-learning skills; a conceptual framework; a model of self-regulated learning; prior knowledge; and future research directions. (Author/LRW)

This study evaluated Reiss's (2000) empirically derived system for understanding incompatibility of housemates in housing programs for people with mental retardation. Comparison of 57 dyads without significant conflict and 36 dyads with conflict found dissimilarity of basic motives and values was associated with housemate incompatibility as were…

Notes that children's books are a valuable source for teachers to bring topics before their students, begin discussions that promote the acceptance of special needs learners, and teach children about the differences that individuals bring to learning situations. Presents annotations of several books that deal with subjects that can be difficult…

Examines individual differences in the ability to integrate information from word parts and context in interpreting novel kanji compounds. Also investigated the relationship between students' beliefs about the effectiveness of using kanji and/or contextual clues and their abilities to use the clues. (Author/VWL)

Discusses the effects of individual differences and cognitive styles on student learning in hypermedia programs and presents a cognitive model to illustrate how students with different cognitive styles react to non-linear learning in hypermedia by analyzing the findings of previous studies. Suggests implications for the design of hypermedia…

To clarify the relationships between reaction time (RT) variability and intelligence, RT distributions from 303 male Navy recruits were partitioned into 16 fast-to-slow latency bands calculated with measures of mental ability. The slowest bands (worst trials) were the best predictors of intelligence and working memory performance. (SLD)

Identifies a particular class of explanatory discourse, and proposes hypotheses about the types of knowledge likely to be associated with skill in this genre. Finds that variations in accuracy and adaptiveness of students' explanations were partially accounted for by measures of topic knowledge, social cognition, and discourse knowledge. (MG)

A 2-year study concludes that cognitive and developmental changes are less important determinants of children's television use than are family patterns and external variables affecting the opportunity to view. Subjects were 326 children within 3 months of their third or fifth birthdays at the beginning of the study and their families, most of…

In response to Poplin (EC 210 561) and Heshusius (EC 220 916), the paper stresses that holism and empiricism are not dichotomous paradigms and that learning-disabled students require instruction which recognizes individual differences, the meaning inherent in structure and pattern, and accountability consistent with the paradigm being applied. (DB)

The article describes the dramatic improvement in reading achievement, decrease in discipline problems, and improvement in student attitudes in a North Carolina elementary school over a two-year period when students were taught through their preferred learning styles. (DB)