The use of Lawson's test of formal reasoning in the Israeli science education context

Lawson's test of formal reasoning was used in the Israeli educational context in order to investigate the relationship between students' achievement in science and in mathematics, to compare the performance of boys and girls, and to compare the performance of Israeli and U.S. populations. It was found that, in general, boys outperform girls; there is only a small correlation between achievement in science and math and Lawson test; and that the Israeli population achieved significantly higher than the U.S. population on the Piagetian skills measured by the test: It was concluded that the future use of Lawson's test by the high school teacher is doubtful.     

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning skill and concept acquisition: Testing a constructivist hypothesis

This study tested the constructivist hypothesis that the acquisition of domain-specific conceptual knowledge (declarative knowledge) requires use of general procedural knowledge. More specifically, it was hypothesized that use of a general pattern of hypothetico-deductive reasoning is necessary for the acquisition of novel domain-specific concepts. To test this hypothesis 314 high school biology and chemistry students were first tested to determine whether or not they were skilled in the use of hypothetico-deductive reasoning. Based on this test, students were classified as reflective, transitional, or intuitive thinkers. All students were then presented with a series of four concept-acquisition tasks. It was predicted that reflective (hypothetico-deductive) thinkers would acquire the concepts while intuitive (empirico-inductive) thinkers would not. Transitional thinkers were expected to be partially successful. These predictions were confirmed as skill in hypothetico-deductive reasoning (developmental level), but not age, was highly correlated with performance on the concept acquisition tasks (X² = 71.14, p < 0.00001). This result was interpreted to be supportive of the constructivist hypothesis.     

评人物性格多层次论

将人物性格“多层次”简单地理解为写好人的缺点,坏人的美德,是不够科学的。只有正确理解人物性格的复杂性、矛盾性,才能在“万变不离其宗”这一美学原则指导下,塑造出丰富多彩又合乎情理的真实、典型的艺术形象。     

Correlates of formal operational reasoning: A neo-piagetian analysis

Most Piagetian formal operational reasoning tasks show horizontal decalage; that is, subjects pass certain tasks and fail others that have the same logical structure. The study reported here analyzes the importance of individual difference variables, as postulated by the neo-Piagetian theory of Pascual-Leone, in explaining subject performance in formal reasoning. A sample of 72 freshman students were administered a test of formal reasoning having 20 items of different types of reasoning, and the tests of the individual difference variables. Results obtained from multiple regression analyses show that Pascual-Leone's structural M-capacity (M_s) is the most consistent predictor of success in the different formal reasoning tasks, followed by Witkin's cognitive style, and to a much lesser degree Raven's progressive matrices, and Pascual-Leone's functional M-capacity (M_f). It was found that in the total score on the 20 items of formal reasoning, M_s accounted for 23.3% of the variance (R = 0.483, F = 6.39, p = 0.014) and Witkin's Group Embedded Figures Test, increased the multiple R significantly (F = 7.77, p = 0.007) and accounted for 7.6% of the variance. M_f and the Raven test did not make a significant contribution to the regression equation. Correlation coefficients among most of the items having the same reasoning pattern but different content are generally low but statistically significant (p < 0.01). Intercorrelations among items having the same formal reasoning pattern and content are fairly high (p < 0.001). These results emphasize the importance of individual difference variables: information-processing capacity (Pascual-Leone) and oversensitivity to potentially misleading information (Witkin). It is suggested that in order to understand student performance in formal reasoning tasks, we should expect horizontal decalages as a rule and not the exception, as Piaget had postulated. Educational implications are drawn.     

Correlates of formal reasoning: Content and problem effects

Piaget's structural theory of formal thought suggests that a general construct of formal reasoning exists. The content of the task and type of problem employed are often ignored in Piagetian based studies but are important for generalizing findings to other studies and to educational problems. The study reported here examines content and problem effects of formal thought in 13-year-old adolescents. Specifically, three controlling variables tasks with different content and two question type tests (analysis and controlling questions) were administered to 120 seventh graders. Ability measures and personality dimensions associated with formal reasoning in the literature are used to clarify what formal reasoning is and how content and problem type are involved in formal reasoning. Significant main effects were found for problem and content effects (p = 0.001), and a significant interaction was found between the two (p = 0.001). Across the three tasks general ability, field dependency, and locus of control were consistently and significantly related to the controlling questions. However, only measures of field dependency were related to the analysis questions. Combinations of ability and personality factors were found to be uniquely related to each task, within each question type. Results have implications for a theory of formal thought and the teaching of the controlling variables strategy.     

多元智能理论在无机化学实验教学中的应用研究

无机化学实验的目的是强化学生的基础知识,培养其基本技能,提高其科学素养.本文从多元智能理论出发,在无机化学实验教学中采用启发诱导式教学方法,全面发展学生多种智能,培养其综合能力.     

Is it formal if it's not physics? (the influence of content on formal reasoning)

Formal reasoning has been studied extensively with tasks that have physics or laboratory content. This study compares laboratory and naturalistic content influences on formal reasoning tasks. Ninety 13-, 15-, and 17-year olds received both laboratory and naturalistic content tasks which required ability to control variables. Expectations about the variables in each task were measured. Results revealed that 8 to 20% of the variance in performance was associated with task content. Content effects were shown to reflect expectations about task variables.     

First-graders’ knowledge of multiplicative reasoning before formal instruction in this domain

Our study investigated children’s knowledge of multiplicative reasoning (multiplication and division) at the end of Grade 1, just before the start of formal instruction on multiplicative reasoning in Grade 2. A large sample of children (N = 1176) was assessed in a relatively formal test setting, using an online test with 28 multiplicative problems of different types. On average, the children correctly answered more than half (58%) of the problems, including several bare number problems. This indicates that before formal instruction on multiplicative reasoning, children already have a considerable amount of knowledge in this domain, which teachers can build on when teaching them formal multiplication and division. Using analysis of variance and cross-classified multilevel regression analysis, we identified several predictors of children’s pre-instructional multiplicative knowledge. With respect to the characteristics of the multiplicative problems, we found that the problems were easiest to solve when they included a picture involving countable objects, and when the multiplicative situation was of the equal groups semantic structure (e.g., 3 boxes of 4 cookies). Regarding student characteristics, pre-instructional multiplicative knowledge was higher for children with higher-educated parents. Finally, the mathematics textbook used in school appeared to have influenced children’s pre-instructional multiplicative knowledge.     

Testing the translational-symmetry hypothesis of abstract-concept learning in pigeons

The translational-symmetry hypothesis of abstract-concept learning was tested in a same/different (S/D) task with pairs of pictures. The translational-symmetry hypothesis proposes that subjects discriminate same trials by the simultaneous repetition of features in the two pictures (and different trials by the lack of feature repetition). Pigeons that had learned a simultaneous S/D task were tested with delays between the two pictures to remove emergent perceptual cues. In Experiment 1, we tested delays of 0 and 1 sec. The results did not show the accuracy decrease expected according to the translational-symmetry hypothesis. In Experiment 2, we expanded the delays to 2 and 6 sec. Even at the longest delay, there was no evidence of the precipitous performance decline or default strategy that would be predicted by translational symmetry. The results provide evidence against translational symmetry (or other perceptually emergent features) that might control these pigeons’ performance in our two-item S/D task.     

人性灵:教育的人性论——解读涂又光教育思想之人性论

人生而蕴含灵性的潜能,随着人在社会生活中的正常成长、接受教育和自觉努力,灵性的潜能就会在不同人的心里不同程度地发育、生长。人性灵指人拥有丰富、微妙、敏感的精神状态,这体现在四个方面:灵动的意识生成独立的认识和体验,主动的意向形成能动的存在趋向,健全的自我促成自为、生成的生命形态,敞开的灵明引导超越的精神向度。教育应以性灵说为人性论,以发展人性为任务,通过和谐并进、相得益彰地发展人的知情意,促进灵性的充分敞开,促成人的全面发展。     

Investigating the double-deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia in an orthography of intermediate depth

The present study aimed to investigate the double-deficit hypothesis (DDH) in an orthography of intermediate depth. Eighty-five European Portuguese-speaking children with developmental dyslexia, aged 7 to 12, were tested on measures of phonological awareness (PA), naming speed (NS), reading, and spelling. The results indicated that PA and NS were not significantly correlated, and that NS predicts reading fluency (but not reading accuracy and spelling) beyond what is accounted for by PA. Although the majority of the children with developmental dyslexia have double deficit (62.4%), some children have a single phonological deficit (24.7%) or a single NS deficit (8.2%). Children with a double deficit were not more impaired in reading fluency, reading accuracy, and spelling than both single-deficit subtypes. In conclusion, the findings of the present study are partially consistent with the DDH and provide evidence for the multifactorial model of developmental dyslexia. Implications of the DDH for an orthography of intermediate depth are emphasized.

     

论韩非子教育思想中的人性假设--兼论对基础教育改革中建立新学生观的启示

基础教育改革需要建立新的学生观,而新的学生观需要对人有更全面的理解。本文从人性假设所包含的四个维度出发来探讨韩非子教育思想的人性假设,认为韩非子在其教育思想中提出了一个“法治人”的假设,这种假设主要包括以下四个方面：人与其周围环境的关系是以利为基础的,而对利的理性把握惟有法治;人原有经验是自利之“自为心”;教育中人获得最大价值是在法治前提下自利之“自为心”的满足;教育中人的最大需要是法治对个体的规范,个体是被动的。本文试图通过对于这种人性假设的分析,来反思基础教育的学生观,希望对新学生观的建立有所裨益。     

集合在化学教学中的应用

1　有关集合的基本原理及与化学知识的联系关于集合的描述 ,十九世纪末集合论的创始人康托说 :“所谓集合就是人们直观感觉到的或意识到的 ,一些确定的可以分辨的对象结合在一起的集体。”如果我们以化学物质为分辨对象 ,则它们的集合可分别表示为 :(1)周期表中ⅠＡ元素组成的集合 ,它可以表示为 :{周期表中ⅠＡ元素 }或 :{Ｈ、Ｌｉ、Ｎａ、Ｋ、Ｒｂ、Ｃｓ、Ｆｒ} ;(2 )核电荷数为 1、2、3、4的元素的原子组成的集合 ,它可以表示为 :{核电荷数为 1、2、3、4的元素的原子 }或 :{Ｈ、Ｈｅ、Ｌｉ、Ｂｅ} ;(3)能与稀硫酸反应生成氢气的金属组成…     

Personality type and occupational preference: Testing Holland's theory in the Caribbean

Holland's theory of career choice, which predicts a relationship between personality type and occupational preference and satisfaction, was tested in Dominica, a small and relatively underdeveloped Caribbean nation. Data from 101 14–16 year olds in their final year of schooling were consistent with Holland's ideas in some respects, but the close relationship observed between Social and Realistic categories contradicted theoretical predictions. Explanations for this finding, and wider implications for use of North American materials in Caribbean guidance and counselling programmes, are discussed.This research was conducted by the second author in partial fulfilment of requirements for the B.E.d. degree, University of the West Indies, under the supervision of the first author who also prepared the article for publication.     

多元智力理论在化学实验教学中的应用

霍华德·加德纳把智力定义为解决问题和创造具有某种文化价值的产品的能力 ,是对传统智力的挑战。本文拟从化学实验教学情境去挖掘每个人或多或少拥有的七种多元智力 ,通过对学生的多元化评价 ,确定最有利于学生学习的教学方法与策略 ,从而在可能范围内使具有不同智力的学生都受到同样良好的教育     

Improper use of linear reasoning: An in-depth study of the nature and the irresistibility of secondary school students' errors

Several recent ascertaining studies revealed a deep-rooted and almost irresistible tendency among 12–16-year old students to improperly apply the linear or proportional model in word problems involving lengths, areas and volumes of similar plane figures and solids. While these previous studies showed to what extent students' improper use of linear reasoning is affected by different characteristics of the task, it remained largely unclear what aspects of their knowledge base are responsible for the occurrence and strength of this phenomenon and how these aspects relate to other more general misconceptions and buggy rules identified in the literature. This paper reports an in-depth investigation by means of individual semi-standardised interviews aimed at analysing the thinking process underlying students' improper linear reasoning and how this process is affected by their mathematical conceptions, beliefs and habits. During these interviews,students' solution processes were revealed through a number of well-specified questions by the interviewer with respect to one single non-linear application problem, as well as through their reactions to subsequent kinds of cognitive conflict. The interviews provided a lot of information about the actual process of problem solving from students falling into the ‘linearity trap’ and the mechanism behind it. Although some students seem to really ‘believe’ that quantities are always linked proportionally, their improper use of linearity often results from superficial and intuitive reasoning, influenced by specific mathematical conceptions, habits and beliefs leading to a deficient modelling process. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

核心资本:企业产生的必要条件——企业性质的一种新假说

对于企业性质即企业为什么会产生,马克思主义经济学从劳动分工利益的角度进行了解释,现代企业理论以“交易费用”为基础进行了深入的、专业的探究。笔者认为,现代企业理论只回答了企业产生的充分条件而非必要条件,核心资本出现并为社会发现和认同,才是企业出现的必要条件。     

刍议熵理论在化学教学中的应用

熵理论对化学教学具有启发性的意义,正确利用熵理论进行化学教学,对提高化学教学质量大有帮助.