Following the instructions!: Effects of gender beliefs in mental rotation

Research has widely demonstrated male superiority in the Mental Rotation Test (MRT). Various explanations have been put forward to account for these differences. We considered gender beliefs and argued that women may fare less well than men partly because they are considered unable to perform this kind of task. Beliefs about spatial ability were experimentally manipulated in samples of 107 female and of 90 male high-school students, divided into three groups, following the instructions: men are better, women are better, general (with no gender reference). Our data show that women who expect to be more able than men and men who expect to be more able than women outperformed their counterparts. MRT performance fell for those expecting to be less able. The effects of induced beliefs on cognitive performance are stressed, particularly in the educational context.     

Gender-specific effects of artificially induced gender beliefs in mental rotation

Men outperform women in the Mental Rotation Test (MRT) by about one standard deviation. The present study replicated a gender belief account [Moè, A., & Pazzaglia, F. (2006). Following the instructions! Effects of gender beliefs in mental rotation. Learning and Individual Differences, 16, 369–377.] for (part of) this effect. A sample of 300 adults, whose gender beliefs about mental rotation were manipulated experimentally (instructions given: men are better, women are better, or no gender differences exist) had to complete the MRT. Artificially induced gender beliefs affected performance and guessing behavior differently in relation to gender. Women's performance followed the gender belief induction but their guessing behavior remained unaffected. Men's performance, however, remained unaffected but their guessing behavior followed the gender belief induction. These findings suggest that gender beliefs affect men and women differently, and they also suggest that a gender belief account cannot (fully) explain gender differences in mental rotation performance.     

The effects of teaching mental calculation in the development of mathematical abilities

Many countries include mental calculation within their curriculum, as the literature shows benefits related to it. However, evidence mainly focuses on the effects of teaching mental calculation on computational fluency. Therefore, the authors aimed to assess the effects of teaching mental calculation on double-digit computation, number line estimation, and computational fluency. Fifty second-grade students from a Uruguayan private school were randomly assigned to a control or treatment condition (n?=?25 each). The treatment group participated in 15 sessions of mental calculation intervention, while the control group received “teaching as usual.” Assessment took place before and after the intervention. The authors found no significant impact of the treatment on the mathematical outcome variables. The results are explained in the context of the available literature and the methodological decisions taken. From a perspective of evidence-based teaching practices, the present study contributes to a better understanding of effective instructional principles.     

The role of motor processes in three-dimensional mental rotation: Shaping cognitive processing via sensorimotor experience

An extensive body of literature has explored the involvement of motor processes in mental rotation, yet underlying individual differences are less documented and remain to be fully understood. We propose that sensorimotor experience shapes spatial abilities such as assessed in mental rotation tasks. Elite wrestlers' and non-athletes' mental rotation accuracy and response times were measured in three different conditions: mental rotation (a), mental rotation with visual (b) and movement (c) interference. Results showed that both groups were equally affected by the visual interference task, as hypothesized from previous literature. However, the movement interference task impacted tremendously more wrestlers' mental rotation performance. These findings suggest that experts in motor activities rely heavily on motor processes in three-dimensional mental rotation problems solving, thus performing more poorly when simultaneously holding movements. The implications of this work in providing further evidence for the close tie between perceptive, motor and cognitive processes are discussed.     

Facilitating invented spelling through language analysis instruction: An integrated model

Invented spelling ability reflects young children's developing awareness of the internal structure of words-at syllabic, phonemic, and morphemic levels, as well as their lettersound knowledge. Controlled intervention studies have demonstrated that these language analysis skills can be taught in kindergarten, with a significant effect on early spelling. This paper examines the effects of an instructional approach that emphasized integration of language analysis teaching into the whole-language kindergarten curriculum. Children who received this type of instruction were, on average, representing all of the phonemes in written words at the end of kindergarten, and their performance continued to improve into first grade.     

从建构主义看电视教材在多媒体教学中的应用与发展

文章从建构主义学习理论的教学特点出发，分析了电视教材在多媒体教学中的具体应用，探讨了电视教材在多媒体教学中的发展趋势，并指出了今后努力的方向。     

The role of gender constancy in early gender development

Kohlberg's (1966) hypothesis that the attainment of gender constancy motivates children to attend to gender norms was reevaluated by examining these links in relation to age. Ninety-four 3- to 7-year-old children were interviewed to assess whether and how constancy mediates age-related changes in gender-related beliefs. As expected, results indicated a general pattern of an increase in stereotype knowledge, the importance and positive evaluation of one's own gender category, and rigidity of beliefs between the ages of 3 and 5. Moreover, the stability phase, rather than full constancy, mediated some of these relations. After age 5, rigidity generally decreased with age, with relations primarily mediated by consistency.     

Teacher identity development through action research: a Chinese experience

This study explores how two language teachers constructed and reconstructed their professional identities through their action research (AR) facilitated by university researchers in China. Informed by the theory of ‘community of practice’, the findings of the study show that AR exerted a transformative impact on the teachers’ identity development. Four distinctive routes of identity change were noted, namely their transformation from ‘fisherman’ to ‘fishing coach’, from ‘craftsman’ to ‘teacher researcher’, from ‘lonely fighter’ to ‘collaborator’, and from ‘housekeeper’ to ‘change agent’. Such change can be attributed to their engagement and practice in different communities of practice. However, the participants’ identity development also encountered some contextual obstacles, including the rigid school curriculum, lack of research knowledge, as well as the power dynamics between them and the researchers. Several implications can be drawn for teachers, teacher educators, and school leaders to help teachers construct a solid and robust professional identity in seeking their continuing professional development through AR.     

The technological gender gap: Evidence and recommendations for educators and computer-based instruction designers

The term technological gender gap refers to the idea that males and females have different technology-related attitudes, behaviors, and skills. This article reviews the mounting evidence documenting the existence of a gender gap, which, if ignored, could render large numbers of female students unprepared to meet the technological challenges of the future. Recommendations for ameliorating the technological gender gap are presented for educators and computer-based instruction (CBI) designers who are interested in providing equitable educational opportunities for male and female students.     

"必要的张力":发展型心理教育与心理发展

心理教育的核心旨趣是促进和实现人的心理发展.正确认识心理教育与心理发展相互依存、相互促进的辩证关系,树立科学的心理发展观,保持心理发展与心理教育之间的适当张力,是建构发展型心理教育范式的需要.     

Gender matters: The variable effect of gender on the student experience

Linda Sax shares her research findings on the differences between how men and women respond to college.     

体证和体验的方法对心理学研究的价值

心理学的研究有自己的研究方法。那么,科学心理学所运用的方法就是科学的研究方法。但是,在特定的科学观的限定下,所谓的科学就是实证的科学。在中国本土文化中的传统心理学所运用的方法并不是实验的方法,而是体验的方法;所运用的方法并不是实证的方法,而是体证的方法。所谓体证的或体验的方法,就是通过意识自觉的方式,直接体验到自身的心理,并直接构筑了自身的心理。实证与体证在心理学具体研究中的体现,就是实验与体验的分别与不同。     

Teachers' schemata for classroom events: The mental scaffolding of teachers' thinking during classroom instruction

Researchers have shown that experts and novices differ in their recall, representation, and analyses of problem situations. This study investigated whether such differences existed between novice and experienced high school teachers in their recall and analyses of problem events during interactive teaching. Experienced and inexperienced teachers (n = 10 in each group) completed cognitive ability tests and were interviewed after viewing three videotaped vignettes of interactive teaching. In contrast to novices, experienced teachers both recalled more classroom events and relied more on procedural knowledge and principles in analyzing classroom events. These differences may indicate that experienced teachers have better developed knowledge structures of “schemata” for classroom teaching than do novice teachers.     

The development of classification abilities in culturally disadvantaged children

Culturally disadvantaged children appear to do less well in analyzing categorical relationships than middle class children.     

The effects of whole-language instruction: An update and a reappraisal

This article reports an update of a meta-analysis of the effects of whole language originally conducted by Stahl and Miller (1989). Using studies conducted since 1988, the present meta-analysis suggests that whole-language approaches still produce effects on achievement essentially similar to that of basal readers. However, relatively few studies were found that used achievement measures. Looking at these studies as a whole, there seems to be a shifting of goals from achievement to attitude toward reading. Whole-language approaches seem to be effective in improving children's attitudes toward reading. The effects of eclectic programs, which include the use of open-ended tasks and self-selection of literature as in whole-language approaches but also stress an achievement orientation and phonics instruction as in more traditional approaches, seem to be effective in improving both achievement and attitude.