Chinese Journal of Science Education


Vol. 9 No. 2, Pages 147 - 168, 2001

The Dynamic Processes of Mental Modeling - Observations and Interpretations of a physical phenomenon (Article written in chinese)

Tsung-Hau JEN

Abstract

This paper explored (1) the dynamic processes of mental modeling form a phenomenological standpoint, and (2) the effects of mental models on the perception of information. The study included two experiments. In experiment 1, six subjects were investigated through interviews. In order to elicit the subjects' mental models, they were required to explain a physical phenomenon by thinking aloud. Two coders analyzed the verbal protocols, and the inter-rater reliability was 0.93. Results indicated t hat the subjects' mental models could evolve through (1) abandoning the primary models and replacing with other models, (2) adding or deleting variables and constrains, (3) developing branching theories, or (4) reconciling different theories. Experiment 2 confirmed the conclusion in experiment 1, which suggests that mental models might influence the perception of information on top-down processes. One hundred and thirty one students were randomly assigned into a control group (N = 32) and three experiment al groups (N = 33 for each). The subjects were asked to observe a physical phenomenon, which was the same as in experiment 1, and to record whatever they saw. Before starting to observe, subjects in each experimental group were asked to read one of the th ree different readings, which were provided as explanatory models for the observed phenomenon. The subjects in the control group were required to describe what they saw directly without any previous reading. Results indicated that (1) the subjects in the control group recorded significantly more details than those who were in the experimental groups (p < .01), and (2) there were significant differences between the percentages of subjects from different groups who observed some certain phenomena (p < .05). The mental models formed by subjects confined and guided their perceptions and selections of information.

Keywords: : mental models; high-level perception theory; reasoning; dynamic process

[Chinese Version | Index | Chinese Journal of Science Education | Other Journals | Subscription form | Enquiry ]


Mail any comments and suggestions to hkier-journal@cuhk.edu.hk .