A Structure-Mapping Model for Word Problems

A structure-mapping model for word problems is used to interpret the results of four experiments. In the first two experiments students rated the potential usefulness of solutions for pairs of problems, mixture problems in Experiment 1 and work problems in Experiment 2. The problems were either equi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition memory, and cognition, 1987-01, Vol.13 (1), p.124-139
Main Author: Reed, Stephen K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition. Intelligence
Cognitive Maps
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Problem Solving
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Theories
Word Problem
Words (Phonetic Units)
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Summary:A structure-mapping model for word problems is used to interpret the results of four experiments. In the first two experiments students rated the potential usefulness of solutions for pairs of problems, mixture problems in Experiment 1 and work problems in Experiment 2. The problems were either equivalent (same story, same procedure), similar (same story, different procedure), isomorphic (different story, same procedure), or unrelated (different story, different procedure). Students in Experiment 3 used an example solution for a work problem and a mixture problem to generate equations to related test problems that differed in their mappings from the example. In Experiment 4 students matched concepts in the test problems to corresponding concepts in the examples to provide a direct measure of their ability to construct mappings across different problems. In both Experiments 3 and 4, students performed significantly better on isomorphic problems than on similar problems, and significantly better on work isomorphs than on mixture isomorphs. The results suggest that a structure-mapping model that emphasizes the transparency and structure of the mapping can be used to predict the usefulness of a solution.
ISSN:0278-7393
1939-1285
DOI:10.1037/0278-7393.13.1.124