Guidance and manipulation as complementary instructional variables in computer-based problem solving¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The article proposes that two instructional variables play complementary roles in computer-based problem solving for concept development. Guidance leads students to see all situations relevant for developing new knowledge, benefiting performance directly after instruction; manipulation leads students to play around so that they systematically experience the results of their actions through feedback, benefiting retention. The authors state that "guidance in combination with the possibility to manipulate objects in a domain, support the acquisition of knowledge and skills in that domain".

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Guidance must expose learners to all different types of basic problem situations derivable from the target concept
Manipulation requires a visual representation with objects whose manipulation yields feedback on the results of actions

Constraints¶

Evidence concerns learning the conditional in first-order logic with social science students in Tarski's World

Target Learners¶

first- and second-year social science students

Learning Goals¶

acquisition of concepts of logic
problem-solving knowledge and skills in a domain

Claims¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Tessa Eysink, Sanne Dijkstra, Jan Kuper. (2002). The role of guidance in computer-based problem solving for the development of concepts of logic. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016018210897

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`guidance-manipulation-dual-variable-account`
`title`	`Guidance and manipulation as complementary instructional variables in computer-based problem solving`
`description`	`The article proposes that two instructional variables play complementary roles in computer-based problem solving for concept development.`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-10-18`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `tessa-eysink-2002`

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