Search

Discussed is learning theory as it is related to the teaching of biology. This article proposes that extension of the original cycle model into three types of learning cycles can form the basis of a satisfactory and educationally practical model of instruction. Includes 30 references. (CW)

Explores the relationships between seventh-grade students' misconceptions of genetics and natural selection and four cognitive variables: reasoning ability; mental capacity; verbal intelligence; and cognitive style. Reports that only the reasoning ability was significantly related to the number of misconceptions. (Author/YP)

This article offers five research criteria and their rationale to help researchers avoid problems and to help them improve research. Improving research should improve the quality of science teaching. The treatment of causal hypotheses is stressed. (Author/CW)

Reported is a study of the influence of a biology course on the development of correlational reasoning in students. (SA)

Finds that various aspects of formal reasoning correlated significantly with mean t-unit lengths written by high school freshman boys, but not by freshman girls. Suggests that the reasoning tasks may have been biased against females. (RL)

This study, conducted with seventh graders, lends support to the Piagetian hypothesis that the development of formal operations is a prerequisite for the effective learning of the proportions concept. (MK)

The paper presents a discussion of a theory of intelligence which postulates that intelligence develops rather than that intelligence is an innate ability possessed in full measure at birth. Discussion of unresolved issues surrounding their theory is presented. The effect of such a theory on science teaching is discussed. (RE)

Investigated and confirmed is a correlation between grades awarded on the basis of students' ability to respond with higher-order cognitive processes in college biology classes and performance on Piagetian-type tasks, in which cognitive style dimension of field dependence-independence was assessed for each student. (CS)

The author examines Novak's position that science and mathematics educators should discard Piaget's theory of intellectual development in favor of Ausubel's theory of meaningful learning as a guide for teaching practice and research. (PB)

Many science curriculum development projects have the goal of increasing students' ability to employ scientific or formal reasoning strategies. Argues that longitudinal data of students who acquired formal reasoning strategies as a consequence of specific instruction are needed to provide evidence that these skills will help in other academic areas. (PB)

To determine responsiveness to instruction, matched concrete operational seventh-grade (N=50) and college (N=72) students were given identical classroom instruction in probabilistic and correlational reasoning using biological concepts. Field dependence/independence and fluid intelligence were examined. Reasons why college students are more responsive and implications for science teaching are discussed. (JN)

Discusses whether formal thought constitutes a structured whole and role of propositional logic in advanced reasoning. Presents aspects of advanced reasoning model, considering hypothesis generation/testing as central processes in intellectual development. Argues that advanced reasoning schemata are linked by these processes and should be incorporated into science instruction. (Author/JN)

Ability of five cognitive characteristics to predict students' (N=96) achievement of evolution and natural selection concepts was measured. Results, among others, indicate that disembedding ability, prior knowledge, and evolutionary belief were significantly related to achievement while developmental level and mental capacity were not. (JN)

Students (N=387) in grades 8, 10, 12, and college were administered eight reasoning items to test hypothesis that the basic logic utilized in individuals in scientific hypothesis testing is the biconditional and that the biconditional is a precondition for development of formal operations. Results and implications for science instruction are discussed. (Author/JN)

Two selection and nine evaluation hypothesis testing tasks varying systematically with respect to causality, response alternatives, and context continuity were administered to two samples of adults (N=35; N=32). It was to determine effects of these variables and the degree to which subjects reasoned with material conditional, biconditional, partial, or partial plus biconditional connectives. (Author/JN)

Psychological equilibration (internal mental process by which individuals develop intellectually) is discussed in terms of its origin in the biological theory of evolution and in the thinking of Jean Piaget. The importance of equilibration theory for biology instruction is then considered. (Author/JN)

This article elaborates on the misrepresentations in Nagy and Griffiths' review of Piagetian research (EJ 275 527). The limitations of their treatment of important methodological and theoretical issues is discussed. (Author/PN)