Conceptual Problem Solving (CPS) framework: principle, justification, plan

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

CPS is a framework for solving physics problems, not a curriculum, adapted from college strategy-writing work for high school students. It contains three parts: "Principle (the principle or concept applicable to the problem), justification (explanation of why the concept or principle is appropriate), and plan (numbered steps that provide the “recipe” for solving the problem". Students format solutions in two columns, with plan steps on the left and equations on the right, supported initially by worksheet templates and scaffolding.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Scaffolding such as headings or blank worksheet templates prompting each part when first introduced
• Teachers grade or require use of the approach on homework or exams to overcome student resistance to writing

Constraints

• Not a curriculum; designed to be adapted to existing course materials
• Writing principle-justification-plan before solving is encouraged but not required

Target Learners

• high school physics students in non-AP introductory mechanics courses

Learning Goals

• selecting appropriate physics principles for problems
• justifying principle applicability
• planning quantitative solutions

Claims

• Cps Problem Solving Advantage High School [+M]
• Cps Conceptual Questions Advantage [+M]

Related Designs

Examples

-

Key Sources

• Docktor, J. L., Strand, N. E., Mestre, J. P., & Ross, B. H. (2015). Conceptual problem solving in high school physics. Physical Review Special Topics - Physics Education Research 11, 020106. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.11.020106

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	cps-principle-justification-plan-framework
title	Conceptual Problem Solving (CPS) framework: principle, justification, plan
description	CPS is a framework for solving physics problems, not a curriculum, adapted from college strategy-writing work for high school students.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-02
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — docktor-2015

Frontmatter is the page's machine-readable record — see the Schema & Guide.