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Abstract

The present study assessed the influence of life experiences upon reasoning among three known groups with no college background. Sample 1 is from rural USA, had limited life experiences and were learning independent living skills (all are within the normal range of intelligence). Sample 2 includes working women (semi-skilled, skilled and mid-management) from rural USA with a high school education or less. Sample 3 is from urban Brazil and was made up of nontraditional students working in a high school equivalence program. Samples 2 and 3 were judged to have greater conflict in life experience. Three ill-defined issues were used in a structured interview with a modified reflective judgment format. Samples 2 and 3 scored relatively high on Kitchener and King's Reflective Judgment scale, and on some issues their scores were comparable to college juniors reported in previous studies. The results are consistent with Piaget's notion that density of cognitive conflict provides the condition for cognitive growth.

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Levels of Reflective Judgment among Noncollege Trained Adults

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