Reviewed are 15 studies on cognitive style and problem solving in science education. The effects of problem context, problem type, and three kinds of cognitive style on subjects' abilities to encounter and solve problems are investigated. Three protocols of the subjects' encountering activities are provided. (YP)

Tested effectiveness of parent training to facilitate adolescent child's decision-making ability. Results showed that trained parents (N=83) showed greater empathic and decision-making skills than did controls (N=39). Notes mothers performed higher on skills than fathers although both acquired skills equally well. Findings suggest implications for…

Describes problem-solving training provided by the Discovery Program, a series of structured group discussions about common personal and social problems and how to cope with them. Discusses the program's advantages over other methods of teaching problem-solving skills. (SV)

Investigates the influence of five cognitive variables on high school students' performance on balancing chemical equations by inspection. Reports that reasoning, restructuring, and disembedding variables could be a single variable, and that working memory capacity does not influence overall performance. Results of hierarchical regression analysis…

Explains the need, general guidelines, expectations, and advantages of student involvement in research at the undergraduate level. Lists selected research projects conducted by students at Burlington County College. (RT)

Discussed is an application of number theory to cryptology that can be used with secondary school students. Background on the topics is given first, followed by an explanation for use of the topic. (MNS)

Encourages classroom teachers to improve their students' reading and reasoning skills by helping them to interpret math problems correctly. (RAE)

College instructors can design discussion classes so that students use the concepts and processes of the discipline to evaluate facts and move toward reliable conclusions. Described are: discussion as a cycle of inquiry; creating tension around ideas; seeking causal relationships; scanning the factual base, etc. (MLW)

Provides guidelines for developing and implementing lessons using selections from children's literature as meaningful and appropriate contexts for solving word problems. Selection procedures, materials for constructing the characters, and two sample problems are provided. Lists 15 references. (YP)

Reports a study which identified different problem-solving strategies among Hong Kong high school chemistry students. Finds that student experts employed a recognition plus a working forwards strategy, whereas student novices attempted a means-end analysis to create a solution procedure. Comparisons were made with problem-solving in physics. (GG)

Reviews the constraints on implementing an issue-centered approach to social studies education and argues that schools play an important role in socializing students into society. Concludes that advocates of new theories of social studies education must take into account the realities of contemporary school and society. (SLM)

A three-part intervention program for coping with antisocial children is examined. The three parts include parent training, academic remediation, and coping skills. (12 references) (SI)

Describes an instructional model, Strategies Program for Effective Learning/Thinking (SPELT), that was developed to translate cognitive psychological theory and research into a practical instructional program. The extent to which SPELT conforms to current instructional design principles is examined, and macro versus micro instructional sequencing…

Describes the efforts of the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) to establish non-sexist mathematics instruction through the workshop "Math for Girls" which stresses creative problem solving and the creation of a department (EQUALS) that facilitates teacher education in non-sexist mathematics instruction. Provides information concerning…

A problem-solving approach is developed for secondary or college students to estimate the number of piano tuners in a large city. The answer and method are analyzed for appropriateness. Four similar problems are suggested. (DC)