Formal reasoning ability has been found to be an important factor influencing
student learning in high school science. Studies in the United States (Cantu &
Herron, 1978; Lawson & Renner, 1975; Sayre & Ball, 1975) and Australla
(Garnett, Tobin & Swingler, 1985) have indicated that science achievement and
the understanding of science concepts are significantly related to students'
ability to use formal reasoning patterns. Similarly, Padilla, Okey and Dillashaw
(1983) found that facility with science process skills _correlates strongly with
formal reasoning ability. These findings provide substantial support for the
view (De Career, Gabel & Staver, 1978; Lawson, 1985) that a major goal of
science education must be to promote the development of students' formal
reasoning abililty