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Models of Competence in Solving Physics Problems *
Author(s) -
Larkin Jill H.,
McDermott John,
Simon Dorothea P.,
Simon Herbert A.
Publication year - 1980
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 - 10.1207/s15516709cog0404_1
Subject(s) - psychology , competence (human resources) , cognitive science , computer science , mathematics education , management science , physics , engineering , social psychology
We describe a set of two computer‐implemented models that solve physics problems in ways characteristic of more and less competent human solvers. The main features accounting for different competences are differences in strategy for selecting physics principles, and differences in the degree of automation in the process of applying a single principle. The models provide a good account of the order in which principles are applied by human solvers working problems in kinematics and dynamics. They also are sufficiently flexible to allow easy extension to several related domains of physics problems.