(^)
PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The purpose of this study is to undertake a systematic, fine-grained examination
of the argument co-construction process in fourteen college physics problem-solving
groups using Toulmin’s argument structure. The research focuses on the groups while
they completed their qualitative analysis (“physics description”) of algebra-based
introductory physics problems. The following research questions guided the exploration:
- Do these fourteen problem-solving groups engage in argument co-construction
as they complete a physics description? - Are there self consistent argument co-construction patterns within a group?
- Are there similarities in the argument co-construction patterns between the
fourteen groups?
a) Do their argument co-constructions begin or end with a Claim?
b) What roles do challenges to the origconstruction process of these groups? inal claim play in the argument co-
c) Do the groups have a preferential means to support claims made in argument
construction (e.g., Grounds, Warrants, Backings)?
OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH DESIGN
The nature of the group problem-solving process ultimately determines the
research design and methods of analysis. For this study, I videotaped students in a
University of Minnesota introductory, algebra-based, physics course while they were
solving physics problems in cooperative groups. Fourteen problem-solving groups,
spanning two 10-week academic quarters, comprise this investigation. Six different
problems are represented in the sample and the texts of these problems are re-printed in
Appendix B. This dissertation is a case study of these 14 groups, which compose the
“elements” of the study.