On costs of good intentions: The effect of problem contextualisation on knowledge acquisition

Beckmann, J.F.; Goode, N.

Abstract

In previous research it has been shown that a semantically familiar problem context can be detrimental to knowledge acquisition. The aim of this study was to test two competing explanations for this effect: goal adoption versus assumptions. Participants were asked to learn about the causal structure of a linear system presented on a computer through goal free exploration. Across four conditions the level of context familiarity was experimentally varied. Results lend no evidence for goal adoption as an explanation for poor knowledge acquisition under familiar conditions. Rather, it appears that a high number of a priori assumptions that tend not to be tested systematically are the main barrier to the acquisition of new knowledge. Implications for research in problem solving, knowledge acquisition and the design of computer-based learning environments are discussed.

Citation

Beckmann, J., & Goode, N. (2013, August). On costs of good intentions: The effect of problem contextualisation on knowledge acquisition. Presented at 15th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Learning and Instruction., Munich, Germany

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 15th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Learning and Instruction.
• Start Date: Aug 27, 2013
• End Date: Aug 31, 2013
• Publication Date: Aug 31, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2015
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1154641
• Publisher URL: http://www.earli2013.org/