ERIC Number: EJ1469481
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2469-9896
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Distinguishing between Students' Conceptual Understanding and Reasoning Approaches: An Application of Dual-Process Theories
Physical Review Physics Education Research, v21 n1 Article 010141 2025
Dual-process theories of reasoning suggest that humans reason using two processes often referred to as process 1 (heuristic) and process 2 (analytic). When presented with a situation requiring any sort of reasoning or decision making, process 1 automatically engages and generates an initial mental model to address the situation. Process 2 may or may not be engaged to assess the initial model as a plausible solution. In a study by Kryjevskaia et al., a "screening" question regarding a pulse on a spring aimed to identify students with relevant content knowledge who nevertheless seemed to rely on process 1 when answering a subsequent "target" question. The study was offered as evidence that dual-process theories can explain some discrepancies in student responses to related questions. The study described here assesses the same pair of questions for their ability to distinguish between incorrect answers that stem from inadequate conceptual understanding and those that stem from reasoning approaches. We use Frederick's cognitive reflection test as part of this analysis. Our results largely support a dual-process-theories perspective of student reasoning.
Descriptors: Physics, Science Education, Thinking Skills, Concept Formation, Scientific Concepts, Decision Making, Schemata (Cognition), Learning Theories, Responses, Questioning Techniques, Cognitive Tests, Introductory Courses, Science Tests, Test Items, Course Content, Knowledge Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Washington (Seattle)
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1821390; 1821123; 1821400; 1821511; 1821561
Author Affiliations: N/A