Much of this theory is extremely useful in determining outcomes that might be expected in college. Student development in college. Jossey-Bass for an overview of this body of literature. Cognitive structural theory is especially helpful in pinpointing outcomes that might be expected with regard to intellectual development over students' college enrollment. These theories focus on how people think, reason, and make meaning of their experiences.
Cognitive development is viewed as a progression through stages that become increasingly complex.
Perry, Baxter Magolda, and others suggest that students usually begin college thinking dualistically. Dualistic thinkers believe that there is one correct answer to every problem, and that teachers will supply these answers. They believe that their job as students is to absorb this information and to regurgitate it on exams. Teachers come to be viewed as guides who have knowledge that can be helpful in analyzing situations but that ultimately, individuals are responsible for coming to their own conclusions. This type of relativistic thinking is an important goal of a college education.