The purpose of this study was to validate and extend the findings of an exhaustive literature search in Year 1 and a meta-analysis in Year 2 of a 3-year project in which nine (9) small-group discussion approaches were identified. Having identified parameters of discussion that were, to a greater or lesser extent, present in these nine discussion…

Explores the constructs of "coming to know" (conceptual change) and "coming to believe" (persuasion) by identifying theoretical forbears of conceptual change and persuasion theory in the domains of philosophy and psychology with the intent of tracing their influence on educational research and practice. (Author/SLD)

Compared the perceptions of persuasiveness of text of undergraduate students (n=195) to those of text-based persuasion and conceptual change experts (n=7). Findings show overlap between the students' and experts' conceptions of persuasion and also show the importance of type and form of supporting evidence and the affective nature of the text.…

Describes fundamental dimensions that appear to underlie effective transfer: subject-matter knowledge; general cognitive and metacognitive strategies; and motivation. Summarizes five generalizations about transfer drawn from the literatures on transfer, domain learning, and analogical reasoning. (SLD)