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Improving Stock-Flow Reasoning With Verbal Formats

Fischer, Helen ; Degen, Christina ; Funke, Joachim

In: Simulation & Gaming, (2015), . ISSN 1046-8781

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1046878114565058
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Abstract

Background. Stock-flow (SF) problems are ubiquitous in nature, ranging from the accumulation of water in a tub to the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. However, research on SF failure repeatedly demonstrates that people have severe difficulties understanding even the most basic SF problems. Purpose. This study tested the hypothesis that people’s understanding of SF problems depends on the presentation format used. Specifically, we expect SF failure to decrease when avoiding previously used scientific formats comprising coordinate systems and graphs, and SF problems are presented in verbal formats. Method. Participants (N = 107) solved a range of different SF problems with experimentally varied presentation formats (verbal vs. graphic). We assessed fundamental understanding of graphs and graphical versus verbal production of stocks and in- and outflows. Results. Solution rates show that (a) SF failure is at least partially caused by specifics of the presentation format used previously; (b) fundamental misunderstandings in the construction of graphs can explain previous findings; and (c) the majority of participants arrived at the correct solution when SF problems were presented verbally. Conclusion. The present study indicates that people are able to solve SF problems when they are presented in accessible formats. This result bears implications for simulation-based learning and assessment, and for the communication of SF problems.

Document type: Article
Journal or Publication Title: Simulation & Gaming
Publisher: Sage
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2019 13:46
Date: 2015
ISSN: 1046-8781
Faculties / Institutes: The Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural Studies > Institute of Psychology
DDC-classification: 150 Psychology
Series: Works by Joachim Funke
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