The investigation of formal operational thinking on the age 14-19

Abstract

This work deals with formal operations. The following problems were investigated: (1) formal operational thought characteristics, (2) existence of formal operations structured whole, (3) existence of age differences regarding formal operations and (4) existence of sex differences regarding formal operations. There were 339 subjects, from the three age groups (eight grade of primary school, second and fourth grade of secondary school). Formal operations are tested by Bond?s Logical Operations Test. Rasch model was used for data analysis as well as some CTT techniques, basically for testing age and sex differences. The results show that BLOT is easy for our subjects. The hardest items are related to implications and the easiest to correlations and volume conservation. The data confirm assumption of formal operations as structured whole. There are age differences between youngest subjects and other two age groups but there is no differences between younger and older secondary school students. Sex differences were not found. Results were discussed in the light of Piaget's theory and the results of formal operations studies.