Apprenticeship in Thinking

"Every student of language learning should read this book. Research is good, concept enlightening."--Judith Shrum, Virginia Tech "Barbara Rogoff's Apprenticeship in Thinking is a major contribution to the study of cognitive development because it builds sociocultural factors into theory and method from the outset....It goes a long way toward clarifying central debates in the field....This [is] the best account of a sociocultural approach to cognitive development we have to date." --Science "This is a thoughtful book that looks without flinching at most of the interpersonal problems that we have neglected in trying to understand how young human beings achieve their intellectual competence."--Jerome S. Bruner, Research Professor of Psychology, New York University "This book is essential reading for those who want to know about the most important intellectual theme in contemporary development psychology -- the role of the social context in cognitive development. Professor Rogoff's work is at the cutting edge of the social sciences. Her book admirably interweaves theory and illustrations. It is excellently documented, beautifully written, and thoroughly insightful. It is certain to be one of the most influential books in the field for years to come." --Joseph J. Campos, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley "Barbara Rogoff's Apprenticeship in Thinking is a very intelligent, sensitive, and scholarly piece of work. I believe Rogoff's book will play a significant role in defining the cutting edge of research for the coming generation of developmental psychologists. . . .[It] does a superb job of outlining a research program addressed to the developing child as a social being." --Sheldon H. White, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University "An extremely important volume that promises to have a major impact on the way psychologists take into account cultural differences in developmental goals and patterns of learning/teaching. . . .An extraordinary overview of experimental research and participant observation studies that should find methods, and education courses that consider the social and cognitive worlds of children from different cultures." --Shirley Brice Heath, Professor of English and Literature, Stanford University "A remarkable book by a psychologist with an Anthropologist's sensibility for the social context of cognitive development. Rogoff's landmark work places the study of cognitive development back where it belongs, in the byways of everyday social life. Theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich, Apprenticeship in Thinking is a must-read for Anthropologists and Psychologists both." --Bradd Shore, Emory University "Written in an inviting and fluid style . . ." --Harvard Educational Review "The most comprehensive and provocative account of Rogoff's contextual perspective to date. . . .Formerly fuzzy concepts are clarified and placed in a theoretical context by Rogoff's clear writing style and the use of cogent examples and illustrations." --Contemporary Psychology "Interesting and worthwhile . . . would be particularly useful to people who teach developmental psychology courses. In the introductory chapter, the author provides a good description of the book with the statement that 'this book considers children as apprentices in thinking, active in their efforts to learn from observing and participating with peers and more skilled members of their society, developing skills to handle culturally defined problems with available tools, and building from these givens to construct new solutions within the context of sociocultural activity.' (p. 7). Although many ideas are expressed in that one statement, she accomplishes the task of addressing and providing support for all of them." --Child Development Abstracts and Bibliography