Thesis Detail Page
Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics
Reflection is essential to learn from problem solving. This thesis explores issues related to how reflective physics students are about problem solving and how to improve their capacity for reflection on problem solving. We evaluate strategies that teach reflection as an integral component of problem-solving. We find a large overlap between introductory and graduate students in their ability to categorize based upon similarity of solution. Introductory students in calculus-based courses performed better categorization than those in algebra-based courses. Other investigations explored if reflection could be taught as a skill on individual and group levels. Explicit self-diagnosis in recitation investigated how effectively students could diagnose their own errors on difficult problems, how much scaffolding was necessary for this purpose, and how effective transfer was to other problems employing similar principles. Difficulty applying physical principles and differences between self-diagnosed and transfer problems affected performance. We concluded a sustained intervention is required to learn effective problem-solving strategies. Another study suggests those who reflected with peers on problem solving drew more diagrams and had a larger gain from the midterm to final exam. Another study involved giving common problems in quantum mechanics midterm and final exams and suggested advanced students do not automatically reflect on mistakes. Interviews revealed even advanced students often focus mostly on exams rather than their knowledge structure. A survey was developed to evaluate students' attitudes and approaches towards problem solving. The survey responses suggest introductory and graduate students have different attitudes and approaches to problem solving on several important measures compared to faculty. Responses to individual questions suggest expert and novice attitudes and approaches to problem solving may be more complex than naively considered.
University:
University of Pittsburgh
Academic Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Pages 283
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=11908">Mason, Andrew. "Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics." Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2009.</a>
AIP Format
A. Mason, , Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2009, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772).
AJP/PRST-PER
A. Mason, Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2009, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772>.
APA Format
Mason, A. (2009, July 7). Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics (Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2009). Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772
Chicago Format
Mason, Andrew. "Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics." Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 2009. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772 (accessed 10 November 2024).
MLA Format
Mason, Andrew. "Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics." Ph.D. Dissertation. 7 July 2009. University of Pittsburgh, 2009. 10 Nov. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772>.
BibTeX Export Format
@phdthesis{
Author = "Andrew Mason",
Title = {Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics},
School = {University of Pittsburgh},
Type = {Ph.D. Dissertation},
Month = {July},
Year = {2009}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Andrew Mason %T Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics %R Ph.D. Dissertation %D July 7, 2009 %P 283 %I University of Pittsburgh %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772 %O Department of Physics and Astronomy %O application/pdf %O Ph.D. Dissertation
EndNote Export Format
%0 Thesis %A Mason, Andrew %D July 7, 2009 %T Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics %B Department of Physics and Astronomy %I University of Pittsburgh %P 283 %8 July 7, 2009 %9 Ph.D. Dissertation %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=11908&DocID=2772 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The AJP/PRST-PER presented is based on the AIP Style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. Reflection on Problem Solving in Introductory and Advanced Physics:
References Key Document
Attitudes and Approaches to Problem Solving Survey
The Attitudes and Approaches to Problem Solving Survey, appendix C of Mason's thesis, is provided separately. The expert-like responses are in a password protected file to help ensure their integrity. Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
ContributeRelated Materials
References Key Document
Similar Materials |