Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models

Mental models are basic cognitive constructs that are central for understanding phenomena of the world and predicting future events. Our comparison of two analysis approaches, SMD and QFCA, for measuring externalized mental models reveals different levels of abstraction and different perspectives. T...

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Main Authors: Al-Diban, S., Ifenthaler, Dirk
Format: Journal Article
Published: International Forum of Educational Technology & Society 2011
Online Access:http://www.ifets.info/journals/14_2/2.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11083
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author Al-Diban, S.
Ifenthaler, Dirk
author_facet Al-Diban, S.
Ifenthaler, Dirk
author_sort Al-Diban, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Mental models are basic cognitive constructs that are central for understanding phenomena of the world and predicting future events. Our comparison of two analysis approaches, SMD and QFCA, for measuring externalized mental models reveals different levels of abstraction and different perspectives. The advantages of the SMD include possibilities for statistical testing of single criteria and big groups. Its disadvantages include a comparatively low pedagogical expressiveness of the more formal criteria. An analysis of single cases with the help of QFCA avoids imprecision by virtue of many steps of analysis and seems more significant on a qualitative level. The main limitation of QFCA is that comparisons are possible for small groups or knowledge sections only. The content-based results open various possibilities for comparing mental-model representations by single cases or groups with different pedagogical implications. © International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (IFETS).
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-110832018-12-14T00:48:20Z Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models Al-Diban, S. Ifenthaler, Dirk Mental models are basic cognitive constructs that are central for understanding phenomena of the world and predicting future events. Our comparison of two analysis approaches, SMD and QFCA, for measuring externalized mental models reveals different levels of abstraction and different perspectives. The advantages of the SMD include possibilities for statistical testing of single criteria and big groups. Its disadvantages include a comparatively low pedagogical expressiveness of the more formal criteria. An analysis of single cases with the help of QFCA avoids imprecision by virtue of many steps of analysis and seems more significant on a qualitative level. The main limitation of QFCA is that comparisons are possible for small groups or knowledge sections only. The content-based results open various possibilities for comparing mental-model representations by single cases or groups with different pedagogical implications. © International Forum of Educational Technology & Society (IFETS). 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11083 http://www.ifets.info/journals/14_2/2.pdf International Forum of Educational Technology & Society restricted
spellingShingle Al-Diban, S.
Ifenthaler, Dirk
Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title_full Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title_fullStr Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title_short Comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
title_sort comparison of two analysis approaches for measuring externalized mental models
url http://www.ifets.info/journals/14_2/2.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11083