PHYSICS PROBLEM SOLVING

PATTERNS

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Lead3B to Claim , 7A

2

2A,2B,2Begin wD,3A,4ith Claim A,4B1,4B2

4C,4D,5A,5B1,5B2,5C,6B

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Figure 4-1. Groups Begin with Claims.
It should be noted this “beginning with the claim” may be in part due to the
manner in which the episodes were defined. A new episode was defined to begin when a
new thought occurs. In general, a claim introduces a new thought, and this new thought
begins the new episode. I asked, “Is it natural for a group to begin with a claim?” Group
4A provided an insight into this question. Their episodes were very easy to code and
define, in part because they usually ended with a summarizing statement. The next
statement after summarizing statement was a new claim, and a new thought, and hence a
new episode began.
Our prior research showed that groups of three worked better than groups of four
for physics problem solving (Heller and Hollabaugh, 1992). Since both 3B and 7A are
groups of four, perhaps claim making is inhibited, or slower to take shape, in larger
groups. But, the other group of four (2A) did not follow this claim-last pattern. Group
2A had a better ability mix (LLMH) than Groups 3B or 7A (both LLLM). That may have
caused an “interaction” between group size and ability mix. Even so, I am reluctant on