Transitive Relations

Description of the instrument
Transitive Relations deals with relationships that exist in ordered sets, in which the differences between set members are described by the terms "greater than," "less than," and "equal to." This instrument helps learners recognize conditions that permit deductive and inductive reasoning. Through the tasks in Transitive Relations, learners demonstrate their ability to engage in inferential thinking based on logical implication and relational thinking.

Cognitive functions developed

• Definition of problem.
• Selection of relevant information.
• Comparison and categorization.
• Hypothetical thinking.
• Planned and systematic behavior.
  

Mediation of sample task
Transcendence is reached through insight and generalization from the sample task below into other areas of academic, vocational, and life experiences. Meaning is assigned to the logical processes that allow the mind to exceed the confines of the concrete experiences through inferential thinking. Goal-seeking, goal-setting, goal-planning, and goal-achieving behavior is mediated along with the mediation of regulated behavior and a feeling of competence. A feeling of optimism is mediated as students learn to induce conclusions about unknown relationships.

Sample task

Four construction workers are building a building. Arthur and David together can put up two walls in one work day. Charles and Harold together can also put up two walls in one work day. Arthur does more work in one day than Charles does.

Substitute letters for the names:

Using the signs (>, >), signify the relationship between the work rates:

©1996 R. Feuerstein, HWCRI.