INDUCTIVE REASONING AND PERFORMANCE IN TE STS OF INTELLIGENCE - ANALYZING THE EFFECTS OF 2 PROGRAMS TO TRAIN INDUCTIVE REASONING

For his training programs of inductive reasoning KLAUER postulates a t ransfer effect to inductive thinking as well as to (performance in tes ts of) intelligence. As evidence for these claims, however, he uses th e same data. That means the same tests are used to prove enhancement o f inductive thinking and to prove transfer to performance in tests of intelligence. Moreover, KLAUER's claim to train inductive thinking is criticized since better performances in at least some of the tests he administers can result due to enhancements in the area of visual perce ption. Finally, we ask what kind of effects the programs result in: Ar e they mere coaching effects or do the programs result in better perfo rmance due to enhanced competencies? The empirical evidence suggest th at positive effects on inductive thinking do not last as long as perce ptual competencies that are necessarily fostered when visual material is presented to children.