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Are parents' and children's thinking styles related?
1Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. lfzhang@hkucc.hku.hk
Psychological Reports
|December 3, 2003
Summary
Sternberg's theory of mental self-government is valid for Chinese students and parents. Student thinking styles are influenced by personal factors and parental thinking styles, impacting educational strategies.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Investigates the validity of Sternberg's theory of mental self-government.
- Examines the 'socialization effect' assumption within the theory.
- Focuses on mainland Chinese secondary school students and their parents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the validation of Sternberg's theory to a new cultural context.
- To investigate the influence of socialization on thinking styles.
- To explore the relationship between students' and parents' thinking styles.
Main Methods:
- Survey research involving 232 secondary school students and their parents.
- Utilized demographic questionnaires.
- Administered the Thinking Styles Inventory based on Sternberg's theory.
Main Results:
- Sternberg's theory of mental self-government demonstrated validity in the Chinese sample.
- Student thinking styles were significantly related to personal factors (sex, grade, self-rated abilities).
- Student thinking styles were also correlated with their parents' thinking styles.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the cross-cultural applicability of Sternberg's theory.
- Personal and familial factors significantly shape adolescent thinking styles.
- Implications for educators, counselors, and parents in understanding and supporting student development.
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