Two marble-and-ramp experiments investigated whether a simple-to-embedded-rules account can explain changes in children's causal reasoning. Results indicated that the same difference between three- and four-year olds in the prediction experiment appeared in the action experiment, suggesting that the same rules may underlie causal action as well as…

Describes a project that uses a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving in analyzing a crime scene and suspect evidence. Requires each student to work effectively in a team, communicate in both written and oral forms, perform hands-on laboratory manipulations, and realize that the entire class was depending on their individual contributions…

Profiles a middle school mathematics teacher and examines her use of two problems from a pilot version of a 6th grade unit developed by a mathematics curriculum project. Reports that problem-solving-oriented curricula provide opportunities for students to make mathematics connections and leads to student confusion and uncertainty. Contains 35…

Argues that high school physics should be grounded in motivating contextual activities and connected to a philosophically and historically valid theoretical structure. Explains the large context problem approach and its effect on generating questions and problems. (DDR)

Presents an activity illustrating the role that technology can play in modeling real-world problem situations and making connections across the curriculum. Includes using a graphical model to answer the questions. Lists related programs for TI-82 and TI-92 graphing calculators. (ASK)

Reports a study that identified the underlying cognitive processes employed by problem solvers. Researchers coded think aloud protocols from 40 undergraduate elementary education majors who were asked to solve analogous problems. Results indicated that the successful problem solvers differed from unsuccessful ones in three significant ways. (SM)

A study examined the relationship between self-concept and coping strategies of 457 academically gifted adolescents (ages 10-16). Results found the adolescents used various strategies that assumed responsibility for dealing with stressors and took action-focused approaches rather than ignoring problems. They focused on the positive and on problem…

Presents an activity to teach students how forests are managed to meet a variety of human and environmental needs. Involves students in thinking about forest uses, animals that live in forests, recreational activities in forests, and forest products. Teams pretend to be forest managers and develop strategies for managing forests for different,…

An experimental group of 17 eighth graders and 16 controls conducted 2 iterations of an activity to design wind collectors. Experimentals received science and math instruction between iterations. The control group scored better on the posttest. Interviews showed the experimentals tried to apply science concepts; the controls depended on what they…

One group of Illinois secondary agriculture students was taught using a problem-solving approach (PSA), the other with a subject-matter approach (SMA). A problem-solving posttest and Group Embedded Figures Test showed significantly higher problem-solving ability in the PSA group. Field independent learners in the PSA group significantly increased…

Draws together central research on scientific problem solving and scientific documentation from a number of fields and demonstrates its latent potential for a general theory of citing. Examines the interdisciplinary field of diffusion research and empirical composition studies dealing with the act of citing. Concludes with a preliminary outline of…

Describes a study of undergraduates that investigated the effects of providing access to a case library of related stories while solving ill-structured problems. Describes experimental, comparable, and control group treatments and discusses results of multiple-choice tests and short answer questions. (Author/LRW)

Two experiments yield data suggesting that the structure of children's concept of artifact function changes profoundly between age 5 and 7, with striking effects on problem-solving performance. This effect is not caused by differences in children's knowledge about the typical use of particular tools, but rather, is mediated by the structure of the…

Identifies factors affecting problem solving strategies in the case of a multiplicative comparative situation involving three unknown quantities whose sum is known, and in which comparison relations between two pairs of the quantities are given. Proposes a model of the complexity of a word problem about such situation to analyze solution…

Examined patterns of conceptual and procedural knowledge of addition in 5- to 8-year-olds. Found that children were more successful in noticing that addends had been reordered rather than decomposed and in noticing the decomposition of addends presented with objects rather than with symbols. Also found that profiles of procedural competence were…