A theory of the planning and debugging of computer programs is formalized as a context free grammar, which is used to reveal the constituent structure of problem solving episodes by parsing protocols in which programs are written, tested, and debugged. This is illustrated by the detailed analysis of an actual session with a beginning student…

Chapter 12 in a volume on school leadership, this chapter cites the work of several authorities concerning problem-solving or decision-making techniques based on the belief that group problem-solving effort is preferable to individual effort. The first technique, force-field analysis, is described as a means of dissecting complex problems into…

The objectives of the Pennsylvania School Improvement Program (PSIP), funded by the National Institute of Education from 1976 to 1980, were to help schools analyze basic skills needs and improve student performance through the use of research-based programs and techniques. The data uncovered the need to improve instructional management, improve…

A course designed to acquaint teachers and teacher trainees with the nature of the creative process and its development in school environments is described. Students in the instruction sections first examined existing instructional procedures and environmental conditions that constitute a barrier to the development of creativity. Students…

According to Charles Lindblom, policy-makers are faced with so many constraints that, rather than using rational models of problem-solving, they are forced merely to "muddle through." However, muddling through is not only a necessity, it is often desirable. Experience designing and managing an administrators' development program…

The purpose of the study was to observe the extent to which preschool children's actions were guided by private speech utterances in free play and puzzle solving conditions. A second purpose was to examine how the structure of private speech utterances varied according to the context in which they were uttered. Fifteen preschoolers were videotaped…

This study examined cooperative planning for change between educational linkers and 11 schools. Qualitative field research methods were used to determine the effects that school context factors, the school-agency relationship, and linking agent behavior had on project outcomes. Results showed that the school context and the school-agency…

Possible sex differences in risk-taking behavior were investigated in two experiments. In the first experiment, 15 men and 15 women played 12 hands of blackjack against a computer. A two-factor ANOVA with repeated measures on the outcome factor revealed no differences for main or interaction effects. In the second experiment 10 female and 10 male…

The relationship between transformation problem performance and Guilford Structure of Intellect (SI) abilities is explored. During two group sessions 42 females and 35 males, age 18-39, were administered 12 Guilford SI tests exemplifying all five symbolic content (numeric) operations, and three contents in the divergent production area. Logical…

THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ARE--(1) TO SECURE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONDITIONS INFLUENCING INSIGHT AND PROBLEM-SOLVING BEHAVIOR IN VARIOUS TYPES OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED, (2) TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE TECHNIQUES, INSTRUMENTS, AND PROCEDURES SUITABLE FOR THE STUDY OF INSIGHT AND PROBLEM-SOLVING BEHAVIOR IN VARIOUS TYPES OF MENTALLY…

THE METHODS USED BY PHYSICIANS IN THE SOLUTION OF CLINICAL PROBLEMS WERE STUDIED. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY ANALYZING THE TYPE AND SEQUENCE OF QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE PHYSICIAN IN THE PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING A PATIENT'S CONDITION. SEVEN TESTS WERE DESIGNED, TWO OF WHICH WERE THOROUGHLY EXPLORED. THESE TWO TESTS WERE ADMINISTERED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO…

A TWO DAY RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON "LEARNING BY DISCOVERY" WAS HELD TO--(1) CLARIFY SOME OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN LEARNING BY DISCOVERY, (2) REVIEW WHAT IS KNOWN OF THE SUBJECT, AND (3) SUGGEST WAYS OF EXTENDING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT. THE 25 PARTICIPANTS WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MANY AREAS IN PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION. OBSERVERS FROM GOVERNMENT…

THE MAJOR CONCEPTS OF ECONOMICS ARE EXPLAINED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR CONSTRUCTING NEW CURRICULUM APPROACHES AND MATERIALS FOR GRADES K-6. THE AUTHOR PRESENTS EIGHT FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS THAT MAY BE USED AS A BASIS FOR BUILDING AN ECONOMICS CURRICULUM AND EXPLORES WAYS OF TEACHING THESE CONCEPTS WITHIN THE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN. CHILDREN MAY BE…

STATISTICAL DECISION-MAKING THEORY PROVIDES A FRAME OF REFERENCE WITHIN WHICH THE COUNSELOR AND CLIENT CAN CONSIDER A WIDE RANGE OF PROBLEMS OF DECISION MAKING. IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY, A SET OF ACTIONS IS AVAILABLE. PREFERENCE AMONG THESE ACTIONS DEPENDS ON THE TRUE STATE OF NATURE WHICH IS GENERALLY UNKOWN. TO GAIN THIS INFORMATION, AN…

Behaviors that characterize play with convergent and divergent materials and the effects of play on convergent and divergent problem solving were examined in this study. Seventy-two 3- and 4-year-old children were assigned to one of three conditions: (1) play with convergent materials; (2) play with divergent materials; and (3) non-play control.…