Treffer: Mental Capacity and Working Memory in Chemistry: Algorithmic 'versus' Open-Ended Problem Solving

Title:
Mental Capacity and Working Memory in Chemistry: Algorithmic 'versus' Open-Ended Problem Solving
Language:
English
Authors:
St Clair-Thompson, Helen, Overton, Tina, Bugler, Myfanwy
Source:
Chemistry Education Research and Practice. 2012 13(4):484-489.
Availability:
Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Peer Reviewed:
Y
Physical Description:
PDF
Page Count:
6
Publication Date:
2012
Document Type:
Fachzeitschrift Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Education Level:
Higher Education
Descriptors:
Chemistry, Problem Solving, Short Term Memory, Science Instruction, Cognitive Ability, Correlation, Grades (Scholastic), College Science, Undergraduate Students, Predictor Variables, Recall (Psychology), Numbers
DOI:
10.1039/c2rp20084h
ISSN:
1756-1108
Number of References:
52
Entry Date:
2013
Accession Number:
EJ997763
Database:
ERIC

Weitere Informationen

Previous research has revealed that problem solving and attainment in chemistry are constrained by mental capacity and working memory. However, the terms mental capacity and working memory come from different theories of cognitive resources, and are assessed using different tasks. The current study examined the relationships between mental capacity, working memory, algorithmic and open-ended problem solving, and A level chemistry grades. The results revealed that the best predictor of algorithmic problem solving and A level grades was performance on a counting recall task, which requires the simultaneous processing and storage of information within working memory. The best predictors of open-ended problem solving were backwards digit recall and the figural intersection test. The results therefore demonstrated a dissociation between the cognitive resources underlying algorithmic and open-ended problem solving. The results are discussed in terms of both theoretical and practical implications. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

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