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Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies
written by
Bashirah Ibrahim, Lin Ding, Daniel R. White, Ryan Badeau, and Andrew F. Heckler
We report a study on students' approaches to quantitative synthesis problems with varying mathematical complexities. Synthesis problems involve multiple concepts typically taught in different chapters. In this study, mathematical complexity is determined by the number and the type of equations that must be simultaneously solved. Students from a second year calculus-based physics course were randomly assigned to solve one of three synthesis problems varying in mathematical complexity: simple, medium, or complex. Results from extended written and interview responses revealed four major problem-solving approaches used by the students: trial-and-error, flawed reasoning, knowledgeable, and expert-like approach. Students solving the simple problem used all the four approaches, whereas those solving the other two mainly used the "trial-and-error" or "flawed reasoning" approaches. A common phenomenon is that many students could identify the appropriate concepts but failed to correctly apply them. Additionally, the students made similar mistakes on all the three problems.
Physics Education Research Conference 2016
Part of the PER Conference series Sacramento, CA: July 20-21, 2016 Pages 168-171
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=14221">Ibrahim, B, L. Ding, D. White, R. Badeau, and A. Heckler. "Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016.</a>
AIP Format
B. Ibrahim, L. Ding, D. White, R. Badeau, and A. Heckler, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575).
AJP/PRST-PER
B. Ibrahim, L. Ding, D. White, R. Badeau, and A. Heckler, Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, 2016, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575>.
APA Format
Ibrahim, B., Ding, L., White, D., Badeau, R., & Heckler, A. (2016, July 20-21). Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA. Retrieved October 13, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575
Chicago Format
Ibrahim, B, L. Ding, D. White, R. Badeau, and A. Heckler. "Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2016, Sacramento, CA, July 20-21, 2016. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575 (accessed 13 October 2024).
MLA Format
Ibrahim, Bashirah, Lin Ding, Daniel White, Ryan Badeau, and Andrew F. Heckler. "Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies." Physics Education Research Conference 2016. Sacramento, CA: 2016. 168-171 of PER Conference. 13 Oct. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575>.
BibTeX Export Format
@inproceedings{
Author = "Bashirah Ibrahim and Lin Ding and Daniel White and Ryan Badeau and Andrew F. Heckler",
Title = {Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies},
BookTitle = {Physics Education Research Conference 2016},
Pages = {168-171},
Address = {Sacramento, CA},
Series = {PER Conference},
Month = {July 20-21},
Year = {2016}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Bashirah Ibrahim %A Lin Ding %A Daniel White %A Ryan Badeau %A Andrew F. Heckler %T Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies %S PER Conference %D July 20-21 2016 %P 168-171 %C Sacramento, CA %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %O July 20-21 %O application/pdf
EndNote Export Format
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Ibrahim, Bashirah %A Ding, Lin %A White, Daniel %A Badeau, Ryan %A Heckler, Andrew F. %D July 20-21 2016 %T Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies %B Physics Education Research Conference 2016 %C Sacramento, CA %P 168-171 %S PER Conference %8 July 20-21 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14221&DocID=4575 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. Synthesis problems: role of mathematical complexity in students' problem solving strategies:Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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