This article does not exactly replicate the final version published in the journal "European Journal of Psychological Assessment". It is not a copy of the original published article and is not suitable for citation.
Complex Problem Solving; Finite State Automata; MicroFIN; MicroDYN; Multitrait-multimethod
Abstract :
[en] Recent advancements in the assessment of Complex Problem Solving (CPS) build on the use of homogenous tasks that enable the reliable estimation of CPS skills. The range of problems featured in established instruments such as MicroDYN is consequently limited to a specific subset of homogeneous complex problems. This restriction is problematic when looking at domain-specific examples of complex problems, which feature characteristics absent from current assessment instruments (e.g., threshold states).
We propose to utilize the formal framework of Finite State Automata (FSA) to extend the range of problems included in CPS assessment. An approach based on FSA, called MicroFIN, is presented, translated into specific tasks, and empirically investigated. We conducted an empirical study (N = 576), (1) inspecting the psychometric features of MicroFIN, (2) relating it to MicroDYN, and (3) investigating the relations to a measure of reasoning (i.e., CogAT).
MicroFIN (1) exhibited adequate measurement characteristics and multitrait- multimethod models indicated (2) the convergence of latent dimensions measured with MicroDYN. Relations to reasoning (3) were moderate and comparable to the ones previously found for MicroDYN.
Empirical results and corresponding explanations are discussed. More importantly, MicroFIN highlights the feasibility of expanding CPS assessment to a larger spectrum of complex problems.
Disciplines :
Theoretical & cognitive psychology
Author, co-author :
NEUBERT, Jonas ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Education, Culture, Cognition and Society (ECCS)
KRETZSCHMAR, André ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Education, Culture, Cognition and Society (ECCS)
Wüstenberg, Sascha ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Education, Culture, Cognition and Society (ECCS)
GREIFF, Samuel ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Education, Culture, Cognition and Society (ECCS)
Language :
English
Title :
Extending the Assessment of Complex Problem Solving to Finite State Automata: Embracing Heterogeneity
Publication date :
2014
Journal title :
European Journal of Psychological Assessment
ISSN :
1015-5759
eISSN :
2151-2426
Publisher :
Hogrefe & Huber, Cambridge, United States - Massachusetts
Volume :
Advance Online Publication
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
European Projects :
FP7 - 290683 - LLLIGHT'IN'EUROPE - Lifelong Learning, Innovation, Growth and Human capital Tracks in Europe