Relatore: Professor Bruno OSIMO - Bruno Osimo, traduzioni ...

There can be different reasons to study problem-solving processes. For
example, a psychologist may want to investigate what mechanisms underlie
human reasoning, what causes errors, the character and origin of people’s
different performances. An educational scientist may be interested in the effect
of education or in children’s difficulties in solving exercise problems. A
knowledge engineer may want to analyze how a subject carries out a task, in
order to try to build a computer system that can do the same. The aim the
researcher may have partly determines the nature of the procedure he follows
when using protocol analysis for collecting data about the cognitive process
(Someren, Barnard and Sandberg 1994).
2. METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
One class of methods of data collection on the problem-solving process is
based on observation of problem-solving behavior. The first one, product
analysis, uses the results of problem solving: the solution to a problem may
reveal aspects of the problem-solving behavior. It is possible to obtain further
information by observing the problem-solving behavior concurrently while it
takes place.
Besides simple observation of results and behavior during problem
solving, properties that are not directly visible or audible may be examined by
using special equipment: researchers may register eye movements during
problem solving or even measure activity in various parts of the brain by
special techniques, which may provide data on what information is being
focused on and processed at a certain moment.
Behavioral observations are registered as action protocols. One of the few
techniques that give access to data about the problem-solving process is
storing a behavior trace if a person manipulates objects during problem
solving (for example when using a computer).
Another class of techniques used both in psychology and in knowledge
acquisition, is based on predefined forms in which the subject should express
his knowledge. According to the task and the purpose of the research, it is
possible to use an infinite variety of formats. One of them are questions with
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