The impact of problem order: Sequencing problems as a strategy for improving one's performance

Katharina Scheiter (1) , Peter Gerjets (2)

1 Department of Applied Cognitive Psychology and Media Psychology
2 Applied Cognitive Science Department

Two experiments investigated the impact of problem order and problem sequencing on performance. In experiment 1 subjects were either presented with a suitable or an unsuitable presentation sequence where they were free to deviate from. Presentation sequence had an impact on performance and rearranging problems improved performance for high priorknowledge subjects whereas low prior-knowledge subjects' performance deteriorated. Experiment 2 yielded evidence that effects of problem sequence have to be triggered by directing subjects' attention to comparing problems before working on them. Results are discussed within the framework of analogical transfer.

Keywords: problem solving; order effects

Domains: Computer Science [cs]; Technology for Human Learning

Katharina Scheiter, Peter Gerjets. The impact of problem order: Sequencing problems as a strategy for improving one's performance. 24th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, 2002, Mahwah, United States. pp.798-803. ⟨hal-00190170⟩