A theory of adult cognitive development which includes two post-formal operational stages is described. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section provides background for discussion of the theory. A case study in which various employees in a hypothetical organization react to a problem is provided. Examples of pre-logical,…

Simple and complex addition problems were presented for true/false verification to 30 undergraduate students to test a general model for cognitive addition. Problems were presented on a microcomputer, with reaction time (RT) and response accuracy recorded. Models for addition were fit to average RT data using multiple regression techniques. These…

This paper presents an experimental group model developed for counseling mentally retarded couples. The selection of the group counseling format is explained, group composition and eligibility requirements are described, and initial assessment of individuals and couples is presented. Preliminary sessions, geared toward orienting the couple to the…

Based on a set of theoretical assumptions relating to the cognitive modificability of low functioning adolescents, a program of Instrumental Enrichment was developed and implemented with 41 hearing impaired secondary students. The primary goals of Instrumental Enrichment included: (1) improving performance in spatial relations, (2) improving…

In order for microcomputers to be used in an efficient and effective manner in the classroom, the computer should not be used in trivial ways, such as utilizing it as an electronic ditto sheet or as a video textbook. Educators must take advantage of the computer's unique capabilities, including its branching capacity, its graphic mode, and its…

Chemists have bemoaned for years their students' inability to solve problems in introductory chemistry courses. However, at least part of this inability must be attributed to the fact that chemists have historically tried to teach their students to solve problems by doing nothing more than working examples. In recent years, chemists have begun to…

This discussion of some of the research literature that is relevant to the issue of teaching thinking provides descriptions of hypothetical, ideal thinkers, and problem solvers; considers the problem of teaching thinking and problem solving; and explores the issue of evaluating programs so that they can be revised and improved. Following Bransford…

A description is given of a Summer Critical Skills Institute program developed under the aegis of a number of private corporations in conjunction with several educational agencies. This program provides opportunities for teachers to learn how to foster students' problem solving abilities. The teachers, working directly with young learners and…

Interest in the ways in which conflict can be de-escalated led to this study, in which 86 college students served as subjects, to compare the effectiveness of tit for tat strategies with Osgood's (1962) proposal of graduated and reciprocated initiatives in tension reduction. The first requirement of Osgood's proposal is to communicate the need for…

We investigated the properties of the distribution of human solution times for Traveling Salesperson Problems (TSPs) with increasing numbers of nodes. New experimental data are presented that measure solution times for carefully chosen representative problems with 10, 20, . . . 120 nodes. We compared the solution times predicted by the convex hull…

We tested human performance on the Euclidean Traveling Salesman Problem using problems with 6-50 cities. Results confirmed our earlier findings that: (a) the time of solving a problem is proportional to the number of cities, and (b) the solution error grows very slowly with the number of cities. We formulated a new version of a pyramid model. The…

The possibility of non-transitivity of preference choices is discussed. One example each from voting and from sports demonstrate some conditions where transitivity does not hold. Suggestions are made for using this type of problem in the classroom. (LS)

A problem is posed concerning the area of certain parts of a plane geometric figure. The problem was used in a student contest with 71 of 270 mathletes answering correctly. An outline of the general proof is given. (LS)

A classic problem involving the "misuse" of mathematical induction is presented. The error in the "proof" is then exposed. The generalization of this problem is presented as a false theorem which should serve to highlight the error. (LS)

This paper uses a systems-based approach to identify problems associated with organizational learning in various subsystems in an organization. The functionalist model of the systems-based approach is first used to identify the relevant sub systems involved in organizational learning. This is followed by a consideration of key functional sub…