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Science 13 July 1973:
Vol. 181. no. 4095, pp. 173 - 174
DOI: 10.1126/science.181.4095.173
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Articles

Observation Is Insufficient for Discovering that the Surface of Still Water Is Invariantly Horizontal

Hoben Thomas 1, Wesley Jamison 1, and Donna D. Hummel 1

1 Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

Among women college students who did not know that the surface of still water in a bottle is always horizontal, two types of specific task procedures designed to elicit self-discovery of the principle were ineffective. Failure to acquire the concept was reflected in inaccurate responses on the adjustment task and by inability of students to verbalize a correct strategy.


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