When guidance was presented in a unitary (integrated) format, worked examples were superior to conventional problems (Experiments 4 and 5)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 1991 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? With guidance presented in a unitary format, students learning from worked examples outperformed students solving conventional problems. → Ahmad Tarmizi 1991

Evidence¶

Ahmad Tarmizi 1991¶

Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani. (1991). Guidance During Mathematical Problem Solving. Doctoral thesis, University of New South Wales. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/69310

q2 · i? · causal · r?

Experiments 4 and 5 with school students learning circle geometry, reported in the thesis abstract. Presenting text and diagram in a unitary format "did not split attention", and the thesis reports a superiority of worked examples over conventional problems under this format. No effect size is printed.

"It was further found that presenting information (e.g. text and diagram) in a unitary format did not split attention and interfere with learning by misdirecting attention and imposing a heavy cognitive load."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• For circle geometry problems, guidance in the form of subgoals or worked examples increased cognitive load during problem processing (Experiments 1-3) — related
• Under many circumstances, studying worked examples produced superior learning compared to active problem solving, as suggested by previous research — a broader claim this one bears on
• Split-attention worked examples lose their advantage over conventional practice, while integrated formats restore it — related
• Variability of practice interacts with problem format: high variability aids learning from worked examples but harms learning from conventional problems — related
• The worked example effect failed to replicate for geometry and kinematics problems, and was reinstated when worked examples were restructured to reduce split attention — related