Thirty years on - a large anti-Flynn effect? (II): 13- and 14-year-olds. Piagetian tests of formal operations norms 1976-2006/7.
Saved in:
| Title: | Thirty years on - a large anti-Flynn effect? (II): 13- and 14-year-olds. Piagetian tests of formal operations norms 1976-2006/7. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Shayer, Michael (AUTHOR), Ginsburg, Denise (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | British Journal of Educational Psychology. Sep2009, Vol. 79 Issue 3, p409-418. 10p. 5 Charts, 2 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | School children, Cognitive development, Constructivism (Education), British education system, Academic achievement evaluation, Sex differences (Biology) |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | Background. Shayer, Ginsburg, and Coe (2007) showed that children leaving primary school in Y6 entered secondary school with much lower levels of understanding of the physical conservations than in 1976. It seemed desirable to investigate cognitive development in the first three years of secondary education. Aims. By using two Piagetian tests of formal operations, one of which had been used in the 1976 CSMS survey, the performance of Y8 and Y9 pupils would be compared with the survey results published in 1978. Sample. Eight schools were selected as willing to test their Y9 or Y8 classes on either the Pendulum (in 2007) or the Equilibrium in the Balance tests (in 2006), giving 39 classes on which to make the comparison with 1976 performance. Method. Regression of the pupils' class mean on each formal test on either the class's 2004 MidYIS or nferCAT standardized scores, and computing the regression at IQ = 100 allows comparison with that found in 1976. Results. On Equilibrium in the Balance the Y8 pupils were down on the proportion at the early formal level or above by -0.61 standard deviations (SD) for boys and -0.63 SD for girls on the 1976 results. On the Pendulum the Y9 boys were down by -0.49 SD and the girls by -0.48 SD on the proportion at the early formal level or above. Conclusion. The negative Flynn-effect found on Volume & Heaviness for Y7 pupils is paralleled by a similar negative effect on attainment of formal operations by YB and Y9, compared with 1976. Yet at the same time the proportion of pupils using the top level of concrete operational thinking has increased on both tests. It seems that there has been a change either in general societal pressures on the individual or in the style of teaching in schools - or both - favouring a lower level of processing of reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of British Journal of Educational Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Background. Shayer, Ginsburg, and Coe (2007) showed that children leaving primary school in Y6 entered secondary school with much lower levels of understanding of the physical conservations than in 1976. It seemed desirable to investigate cognitive development in the first three years of secondary education. Aims. By using two Piagetian tests of formal operations, one of which had been used in the 1976 CSMS survey, the performance of Y8 and Y9 pupils would be compared with the survey results published in 1978. Sample. Eight schools were selected as willing to test their Y9 or Y8 classes on either the Pendulum (in 2007) or the Equilibrium in the Balance tests (in 2006), giving 39 classes on which to make the comparison with 1976 performance. Method. Regression of the pupils' class mean on each formal test on either the class's 2004 MidYIS or nferCAT standardized scores, and computing the regression at IQ = 100 allows comparison with that found in 1976. Results. On Equilibrium in the Balance the Y8 pupils were down on the proportion at the early formal level or above by -0.61 standard deviations (SD) for boys and -0.63 SD for girls on the 1976 results. On the Pendulum the Y9 boys were down by -0.49 SD and the girls by -0.48 SD on the proportion at the early formal level or above. Conclusion. The negative Flynn-effect found on Volume & Heaviness for Y7 pupils is paralleled by a similar negative effect on attainment of formal operations by YB and Y9, compared with 1976. Yet at the same time the proportion of pupils using the top level of concrete operational thinking has increased on both tests. It seems that there has been a change either in general societal pressures on the individual or in the style of teaching in schools - or both - favouring a lower level of processing of reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00070998 |
| DOI: | 10.1348/978185408X383123 |
