Article (Scientific journals)
Students' exploration strategies in computer-simulated complex problem environments: A latent class approach
Greiff, Samuel; Molnár, Gyöngyvér; Martin, Romain et al.
2018In Computers and Education, 126, p. 248 - 263
Peer reviewed
 

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Keywords :
Complex problem solving; Exploration; Isolated variation; Scientific reasoning; Latent class analysis
Abstract :
[en] Complex problem solving (CPS) is considered an important educational achievement indicator. Previous research has indicated that CPS performance depends to a substantial extent on the way students explore problem environments. In this study, we investigated qualitative differences in the way students interact with such environments. In a sample of N = 2226 Hungarian students in Grades 6 to 8, we applied a latent class approach to investigate the use of the principle of isolated variation as an exploration strategy across six CPS tasks that were developed within the MicroDYN approach. Six qualitatively different class profiles emerged: proficient explorers, intermediate explorers, low-performing explorers, rapid learners, emerging explorers, and nonpersisting explorers. We further validated the profiles by comparing the latent classes with regard to students' overall CPS performance and additional indicators of task exploration. In analyzing age-related and gender differences on a cross-sectional level, we found only a small progression toward better performing class profiles from Grade 6 to Grade 8 (e.g., 14.6% of students in Grade 6 were proficient explorers vs. 24.6% in Grade 8; 27.1% of students in Grade 6 were low-performing explorers vs. 25.8% in Grade 8), and there were no substantial gender differences. This study contributes to the understanding of how students interact with complex problems and is the first to address whether variations in these behaviors indicate qualitatively different levels of strategic behavior. We discuss the theoretical underpinnings and potential of identifying class profiles of students' exploration behavior in the field of educational psychology.
Disciplines :
Theoretical & cognitive psychology
Author, co-author :
Greiff, Samuel ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Education, Culture, Cognition and Society (ECCS)
Molnár, Gyöngyvér
Martin, Romain ;  University of Luxembourg > Rectorate
Zimmermann, Johannes
Csapó, Benő
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Students' exploration strategies in computer-simulated complex problem environments: A latent class approach
Publication date :
2018
Journal title :
Computers and Education
ISSN :
0360-1315
Volume :
126
Pages :
248 - 263
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBilu :
since 30 October 2018

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