On costs of good intentions: The effect of problem contextualisation on knowledge acquisition

Beckmann, J.F.; Goode, N.

On costs of good intentions: The effect of problem contextualisation on knowledge acquisition

Beckmann, J.F.; Goode, N.

Authors

Professor Jens Beckmann j.beckmann@durham.ac.uk
Professor

N. Goode

Abstract

In previous research it has been shown that a semantically familiar problem context can be detrimental to knowledge acquisition. The aim of this study was to test two competing explanations for this effect: goal adoption versus assumptions. Participants were asked to learn about the causal structure of a linear system presented on a computer through goal free exploration. Across four conditions the level of context familiarity was experimentally varied. Results lend no evidence for goal adoption as an explanation for poor knowledge acquisition under familiar conditions. Rather, it appears that a high number of a priori assumptions that tend not to be tested systematically are the main barrier to the acquisition of new knowledge. Implications for research in problem solving, knowledge acquisition and the design of computer-based learning environments are discussed.

Citation

Beckmann, J., & Goode, N. (2013). On costs of good intentions: The effect of problem contextualisation on knowledge acquisition.

Conference Name	15th Biennial Conference of the European Association for Learning and Instruction.
Conference Location	Munich, Germany
Start Date	Aug 27, 2013
End Date	Aug 31, 2013
Publication Date	Aug 31, 2013
Deposit Date	Jun 12, 2014
Publicly Available Date	Jul 1, 2015
Publisher URL	http://www.earli2013.org/