Examines explanations used by children (ages five-14) to explain academic success and failure; frequency of their use; and developmental variations in types of explanations used. It was found that patterns of attribution categories vary by age, and that the attribution process involves a complex interaction of subjective and objective reality.…

This investigation of the development of young children's concept of evaporation examines their intuitive explanations of real world events involving evaporation. A study of the effects of providing evidence contradicting their explanations and of directing their attention to relevant situational features provides insight into the development of…

The relationships between Piaget's theory and education are discussed. The accumulated data from studies based upon the theory are examined in terms of (1) shared assumptions which govern the interpretation of replication studies, (2) the extent to which a stage can be meaningfully defined, and (3) the nature of the developmental process proposed…

Discussion of developing children's awareness of their own learning focuses on a study of preschool children ages five-seven in Sweden. Metacognitive skills and phenomenography are discussed, interviews with the students are described, and treatments for the experimental and control groups are explained. (16 references) (LRW)

Describes British study that monitored and evaluated the cognitive development and academic attainments of Down's Syndrome children ages 3-10 over a two-year period. Comparisons with mainstream schools and special schools are made in the areas of children's expressive language, comprehension, numeracy, verbal fluency, drawing ability, and reading.…