title: The importance of understanding: Model space moderates goal specificity effects.
abstract: The three-space theory of problem solving predicts that the quality of a learner's model and the goal specificity of a task interact on knowledge acquisition. In Experiment 1 participants used a computer simulation of a lever system to learn about torques. They either had to test hypotheses (nonspecific goal), or to produce given values for variables (specific goal). In the good- but not in the poor-model condition they saw torque depicted as an area. Results revealed the predicted interaction. A nonspecific goal only resulted in better learning when a good model of torques was provided. In Experiment 2 participants learned to manipulate the inputs of a system to control its outputs. A nonspecific goal to explore the system helped performance when compared to a specific goal to reach certain values when participants were given a good model, but not when given a poor model that suggested the wrong hypothesis space. Our findings support the three-space theory. They emphasize the importance of understanding for problem solving and stress the need to study underlying processes.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt/Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.affiliation: b School of Psychology , University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychology , Goethe-University , Frankfurt/Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vollmeyer
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Mathematics , University Potsdam , Potsdam , Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kortenkamp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Goal specificity; Problem solving; Scientific discovery learning; Three-space theory