Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
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Item Concept mapping as an assessment of cognitive load and mental effort in complex problem solving in chemistry(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2018) Shawli, Ahmed Shukri; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael BrodyThis research is an exploratory, descriptive study of students' cognitive load and mental effort related to complex problem solving in high school chemistry. From a cognitive point of view, the complexity associated with problem solving in chemistry can be understood from the context of cognitive load theory (CLT). The objective of this descriptive research using five high school student case studies is to understand the cognitive load phenomena students encounter while learning subject matter that requires complex problem solving, specifically chemical equilibrium. This study employed a mixed methods multiple case study design, in which each participating student (n = 5) is conceptualized as a case. Each student case self-reported their mental effort on eight chemical equilibrium problems. The mean for each students' mental effort and problem solving was reported. Each student completed an equilibrium concept map which was scored. The concept map scores are reported. The analysis compared mental effort score, quiz score and concept map score. There was an inverse relationship between mental effort and concept map score. The more complex the concept map (higher score) the less mental effort students report using to solve the problems. There was a positive relationship between mental effort score and quiz score; and a negative relationship between concept map score and quiz score. We believe these correlations indicate that the variables are related to cognitive load. Methodologically, we found that concept mapping is a valid assessment of cognitive load and mental effort. We believe that further larger studies are needed to substantiate these findings and explain how concept mapping can be used as a representation of cognitive load and student learning.Item On a heuristic point of view concerning social media news and secondary teachers(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2018) Johnson, Spencer Theadore; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ann EwbankCertain cues used by a consumer of news can trigger heuristics that help determine whether information is credible (Metzger, 2007; Sundar, Knobloch?Westerwick, & Hastall, 2007). This study addresses which cues secondary teachers perceive as effective when assessing the credibility of news on social media. The purpose of this study is to determine how secondary teachers rate cues in order of importance when evaluating the credibility of news obtained in the context of social media. The participants in this study were secondary teachers in a northwest state who teach about online information credibility. A survey adapted from the Kids and Credibility Study (Flanagin, Metzger, & Hartsell, 2010) asked secondary teachers to rate the importance of 23 credibility cues or heuristics commonly found in social media news posts. A principal components analysis revealed three components that are a composite of heuristics reflected in the literature (Beavers et al., 2013). The resulting components were named Endorsement, Reputation & Confirmation, and Low Level Endorsement respectively. By using a sum scores comparison, the composites of heuristics were ordered by perceived level of credibility (DiStefano, Zhu, & Mindrila, 2009; Grace-Martin, 2016). Reputation & Confirmation rated highest on the scale as indicators of credibility, Endorsement ranked second, and Low Level Endorsement ranked last. The results of the study indicate that secondary teachers believe that the most effective heuristics while using low to medium cognitive effort for assessing news credibility are the reputation of the author of the information, along with confirming the information from another source to make a quality judgment on the factual nature of the source. Social endorsements (such as 'likes' and 'shares') on social media play an important role in determining credibility; however, secondary teachers indicate that they perceive Reputation and Consistency to be better at indicating credibility. This study illuminates the role heuristics play in credibility decisions when evaluating news found in a social media setting.Item A study of some factors related to success in mathematics and course offerings(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1958) Short, Orley CortlandtItem Microcomputer interfacing in Montana secondary science classrooms(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1997) Ruble, Darlene B.; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Scott E. DavisItem Understanding the gender gap in secondary technology education programs of Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1997) Diehl, Julie A. (Julie Anna); Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Scott E. DavisItem The acceptance of technology education by Montana's industrial arts/technology education teachers(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1998) Ruble, Kevin M. (Kevin Mark); Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Scott E. DavisItem Future directions in grading(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1970) Dolente, Marie ElizabethItem The implementation of technology learning activities by technology education teachers in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1990) Ray, Steven John; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Douglas PoletteItem A guide for a basic semester of composition grade 10(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1970) Gilbert, William ArnoldItem A reading rate improvement program in grade eight(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1974) Fuller, Kathryn Daughters