In this paper, the SIGGS Theory is set forth and shown to be a model for educational research. The paper treats of the SIGGS Theory, educational research, and of the SIGGS Theory as a model for educational research. The SIGGS Theory provides characterizations of a general system beyond those developed prior to SIGGS' introduction.…

Binary operations are one of the fundamental structures underlying our number and algebraic systems. Yet, researchers have often left their role implicit as they model student understanding of abstract structures. In this paper, we directly analyze students' perceptions of the general binary operation via a two-phase study consisting of task-based…

The use of systems terms and ecological concepts is increasingly common in psychology, and in particular, community psychology. Interest in systems theory began with the development of general systems theory during the 1950's, and led to the adoption of an ecological-systems orientation which recognized the environment as a major determinant of…

This symposium report contains various statements of the theory of change and societal growth and maintenance viewed from the perspectives of major social disciplines. Comparative theories in these areas can provide guidelines for predicting, planning, and carrying out social development programs. The theme of the symposium was the problem of…

The study of the future has grown into a valued tool for business planners, government, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as for many areas of the social sciences. Yet despite the need for reporters and editors who can inject foresight into the news--and despite studies showing that the disciplined use of "futures thinking" not…

This paper seeks to evaluate learning based on the competency approach, taking a didactic experience to evaluate a possible improvement in the ability to solve problems and for autonomous learning in general. For the didactic development, the theme "gases" was taken, which is generally enunciated: Corpuscular kinetic theory of matter;…

Postwar librarians have sacrificed the humanistic basis of librarianship and regard the use of science in librarianship as a settled issue. American librarianship is currently dominated by the physical thinking of scientific systems theory, which includes Bertalanffy's general system theory, Wiener's cybernetics, and the Hartley-Shannon theory of…

The Virginia Department of Corrections mandates that all offenders without a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) are required to be enrolled in GED programs offered in the prison system. However, these programs have shown varying rates of success. Supported by the constructivist theory, the purpose of this qualitative case…

Practical suggestions for superintendents to use in reforming their schools are presented in this document, which focuses on "renorming" as a way to develop cohesive school district attitudes. Chapter 1 describes the concept of school culture, defines the concept of systemic cultural renorming, and provides an overview of the concepts of…

Latinx students are being over-identified as students with disabilities in our current K-12 educational system by as much as eight times that of their White peers. Students served in a more restrictive environment, such as special education, see poorer outcomes than those in a general education setting; therefore, expanding equitable access and…

Network analytic methods that are ubiquitous in other areas, such as systems neuroscience, have recently been used to test network theories in psychology, including intelligence research. The network or mutualism theory of intelligence proposes that the statistical associations among cognitive abilities (e.g., specific abilities such as vocabulary…

This training manual demonstrates the utilization of two family assessment tools with American Indian rehabilitation clients. The manual begins with an overview of general systems theory, family systems theory, and family assessment theory. The genogram is then defined as a type of family tree covering at least three generations, offering a map of…

Approximately one in five college students suffers from food insecurity, however, racially/ethnically minoritized students attending urban universities are more likely to experience food insecurity. Although these concerns are well documented, there has been a gap in the theory-driven tools used by higher education professionals to alleviate food…

This paper presents a conceptual model to help school leaders manage change effectively. The model was developed from a literature review of theory development and model construction. Specifically, the paper identifies the major components that inhibit organizational change, and synthesizes the most salient features of these components through a…

Present and future social and ecological challenges are complex both to understand and to attempt to solve. To comprehend the complex systems underlying these issues, students need systems thinking skills. However, in science education, a uniform delineation of systems thinking across contexts has yet to be established. While there seems to be…