INSTRUCTION OF PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES: EFFECTS ON PHYSICS ACHIEVEMENT AND SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS
Serap Çalışkan, Gamze Sezgin Selçuk, Mustafa Erol · Journal of Baltic Science Education · 2010
Problem solving is usually defined as the formulation of new answers which go beyond the simple application of previously learned rules to create a solution (Woolfolk, 1993). The fundamental problem solving process is a linear and hierarchical process; and each step is the precursor of the next step, and the result of the previous step (Johnson, 1994). Each of these steps is considered as a separate skill which can be categorized into sub skills. These skills can be considered as the analytical parts of the problem solving process which requires the defining, investigating, reviewing and processing of the information regarding the problem. Problem-solving strategy (heuristic) is a technique that may not guarantee solution, but serves as a guide in the problem solving process (Mayer, 1983). In one sense, a problem solving strategy is defined as the proper set of necessary steps to solve a problem. And these steps can constitute different sets (Wong, 1994). Although each step is a general problem solving strategy, sub-steps can be called special problem solving strategies or problem solving behaviors as they are more specific. In the field literature review, a lot of problem solving strategies created according to the step model in the areas of mathematics, chemistry, and physics were encountered: STAR strategy (Maccini & Hughes, 2000), RURRR strategy (Sutherland, 2002), GOAL strategy (Beichner, 2002), WISE strategy (Wright & Williams, 1986), and Minnesota problem solving strategy (Heller, Keith, & Anderson, 1992), to mention a few. InstRUCtIon oF PRoBLeM soLVInG stRAteGIes: eFFeCts on PHYsICs ACHIeVeMent AnD seLFeFFICACY BeLIeFs