Developmental issues in cognitive mapping: the selection and utilization of environmental landmarks

2 studies were conducted to investigate developmental differences in the ability to select and use environmental landmarks for cognitively organizing distance information from a walk. In experiment 1, second-grade, fifth-grade, and college subjects viewed a simulated walk and selected scenes that were high in potential landmark value. In experiment 2, children from the same grade levels first viewed the walk and then ranked distances among either the test scenes most frequently selected by their peers or those selected most frequently by adults. Results indicated that (a) adults and children may not spontaneously select the same features as real-world landmarks; (b) children are less capable than adults in judging the value of potential landmarks as distance cues; and (c) the ability to use environmental landmarks as cues for distance information developmentally precedes the ability to assess this potential information value.     

The developmental relation between cognitive stage and the comprehension of speaker uncertainty.

3 hypotheses were tested concerning the developmental relation between children's concepts of physical uncertainty and their comprehension of a speaker's uncertainty. 2 cognitive tasks of physical uncertainty were used to assign 56 subjects (aged 5-4 to 17-11) to 1 of 3 cognitive stages. 2 tests for comprehension of speaker uncertainty were administered to all participants. The results indicated that cognitive stage was related to (a) comprehension that a speaker could be uncertain, (b) comprehension that uncertainty could be expressed in different degrees or magnitudes, and (c) the internal consistency of judgments made about the relative degree of uncertainty conveyed by an utterance. These findings are interpreted as evidence for the position that development of cognitive stages is structurally related to comprehension of speech act uncertainty.     

Approaches to Study of Distance Education Students

The'Approaches to Studying'inventory of Ramsden and Entwistle (1981) was administered to groups of external and internal students at Capricornia Institute and the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education. Factor analysis revealed a similar factor structure for external students to that of the total sample. This finding, together with analysis of variance data, is taken as evidence that it is valid to use the inventory and the associated theories on learning styles with distance education students. Analysis of variance data showed differences in learning styles for older students. The implications of this finding for the design of distance education courses are discussed.     

The Relationship Between Physical,Sexual, and Emotional Abuse and Unhealthy Weight Loss Behaviors

The authors investigated the relationship between abuse in adult relationships and the tendency to engage in unhealthy weight loss behaviors. Undergraduate women responded to questions regarding weight loss behaviors, whether or not they had recently been in an abusive relationship, and perceived body image. Results indicated that women who had recently been in abusive relationships were more likely to endorse unhealthy weight loss. Implications for college counselors are discussed.     

University Financing Alternatives: The German Example

Germany consists of sixteen federal states (Länder). According to the Basic Law, the Länder are responsible for education, science, and culture. The Länder support the institutions of higher education financially, making the largest contributions to university funding (90 percent). Following the formulation of the "Incentives and Accountability" leitmotiv, substantial changes have taken place over recent years in relation to the financing of higher education. A change of paradigm occurred that involved movement from detailed input-oriented state control to an output-oriented form of global control. Currently, almost all the Länder are working with highly flexible institutional budgets and with indicator-based allocations of funds. A new salary scheme for professors, based on performance criteria, has been introduced. In some Länder, contracts between state and universities--which describe the performances expected of the institutions-- have been concluded.