APPENDIX A
GLOSSARYJust like physics research, research in cooperative learning and problem solving has
specific terminology that may have a different meaning in this context. For that reason, a brief
glossary is provided of those terms and concepts that recur frequently in this dissertation.
Throughout the text of the dissertation, words defined in this glossary will appear in boldfaced
font the first time the term is introduced. The reader may wish to refer back to this section when
encountering subsequent uses of theses terms. Although some terms may have different
meanings in other contexts, these are the operational definitions for this research.
Action research: A research model in social psychology in which theory and practice interact.
Theory informs practice and practice informs theory. Kurt Lewin was the principal advocate of
this model.
process. Cooperative learningActive learning: Any learning is one active lear strategy that activelyning strateg involves students in their own learningy. Typically, students in a lecture^
hall are not engaged in active learning.
Argument Construction: The process of “building” an hypothesis by using a set of heuristics
or other normative rules. Co-construction occurs when two or more people collaborate on the
argument construction.
Case study: A qualitative research method in which the researcher explores a single entity,
process, or phenomenon, and uses a variety of data collection tools including qualitative
descriptions and records (e.g., video or audio tapes).
Cathexis: Concentration of emotional energy on an object or idea.
Cognitideas, concepts, or information.ive conflict occurs when a student is presented with seemingly opposing viewpoints,
Collaborative Skills: One of the five elements of cooperative learning. Collaborative skills
encourages leadership, trust, communication, conflict-management, and decision-making.
Cooperative learning: An active learning strategy that assigns students to work groups.
Episode: members of a gA unit of analyroup. sis consisting of a conceptually unified series of statements by a
Epistemic: Of, relating to, or involving knowledge; cognitive.