Dynamic Problem Solving: A New Assessment Perspective

Applied Psychological Measurement, 36(3), 189-213, 2012

26 Pages Posted: 2 Jul 2012 Last revised: 3 Jul 2012

See all articles by Samuel Greiff

Samuel Greiff

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies

Sascha Wüstenberg

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies

Joachim Funke

University of Heidelberg - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, Department of Psychology

Date Written: July 2, 2012

Abstract

This article addresses two unsolved measurement issues in dynamic problem solving (DPS) research: (a) unsystematic construction of DPS tests making a comparison of results obtained in different studies difficult and (b) use of time-intensive single tasks leading to severe reliability problems. To solve these issues, the MicroDYN approach is presented, which combines (a) the formal framework of linear structural equation models as a systematic way to construct tasks with (b) multiple and independent tasks to increase reliability. Results indicated that the assumed measurement model that comprised three dimensions, information retrieval, model building, and forecasting, fitted the data well (n=114 students) and could be replicated in another sample (n=140), showing excellent reliability estimates for all dimensions. Predictive validity of school grades was excellent for model building but nonexistent for the other two MicroDYN dimensions and for an additional measure of DPS. Implications are discussed.

Keywords: MicroDYN, complex problem solving, dynamic linear equations, dynamic problem solving, finite state automaton, measurement, psychometrics

Suggested Citation

Greiff, Samuel and Wüstenberg, Sascha and Funke, Joachim, Dynamic Problem Solving: A New Assessment Perspective (July 2, 2012). Applied Psychological Measurement, 36(3), 189-213, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2097965

Samuel Greiff (Contact Author)

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies ( email )

Dekanat
Voßstr. 2
Heidelberg, D-69115
Germany

Sascha Wüstenberg

Heidelberg University - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies ( email )

Dekanat
Voßstr. 2
Heidelberg, D-69115
Germany

Joachim Funke

University of Heidelberg - Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies, Department of Psychology ( email )

Hauptstr. 47
Heidelberg, D-69117
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de

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