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Cross‐National Comparisons of Complex Problem‐Solving Strategies in Two Microworlds
Author(s) -
Güss C. Dominik,
Tuason Ma. Teresa,
Gerhard Christiane
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-6709.2009.01087.x
Subject(s) - think aloud protocol , protocol analysis , cognition , psychology , task (project management) , process (computing) , cognitive psychology , social psychology , computer science , cognitive science , engineering , human–computer interaction , systems engineering , usability , neuroscience , operating system
Research in the fields of complex problem solving (CPS) and dynamic decision making using microworlds has been mainly conducted in Western industrialized countries. This study analyzes the CPS process by investigating thinking‐aloud protocols in five countries. Participants were 511 students from Brazil, Germany, India, the Philippines, and the United States who worked on two microworlds. On the basis of cultural‐psychological theories, specific cross‐national differences in CPS strategies were hypothesized. Following theories of situatedness of cognition, hypotheses about the specific frequency of problem‐solving strategies in the two microworlds were developed. Results of the verbal protocols showed (a) modification of the theoretical CPS model, (b) task dependence of CPS strategies, and (c) cross‐national differences in CPS strategies. Participants’ CPS processes were particularly influenced by country‐specific problem‐solving strategies.