Comparison of Chemistry Problem Solving Behaviors In the Aspects of Cognitive Developmental Level of Student and Context of Problem
The purposes of this study were to analyze chemistry problem solving processes of middle school students and to compare their problem solving behaviors in the aspects of the cognitive developmental level of student, the success in problem solving, and the context of problem. Their failures in solving problems were also analyzed in the aspects of problem solving stage and prior knowledge. Forty-two students individually solved four problems regarding density and solubility using a think-aloud method. Students' responses were analyzed after intercoder agreement for analyzing problem-solving processes had been established to be 0.94. The results were as follows: 1. Most students solved chemistry problems following the stages of understanding, planning, and solving, while few exhibited the behaviors of the reviewing stage. There was also individual difference in the number of the stages repeated and their behaviors at each stage. 2. Most students were successful in understanding problems. However, unsuccessful and/or concrete-operational students had more difficulties in understanding problems than successful and/or formal-operational students, and students tended to have more difficulties in understanding problems in everyday contexts than in scientific contexts. 3. Successful and/or formal-operational students exhibited more behaviors of the planning stage than unsuccessful and/or concrete-operational students. Students showed more behaviors of the planning stage, but failed more at this stage, in everyday contexts than in scientific contexts. 4. Most students did not review their solutions. Successful and/or formal-operational students exhibited these behaviors more than unsuccessful and/or concrete-operational students. Students tended to exhibit the behaviors more in everyday contexts than in scientific contexts. 5. Many students failed to solve problems correctly due to the lack of prior knowledge and the inability to plan appropriately.