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Expert-Based Cognitive Model and Student-Based Cognitive Model in the Learning of “Time”: Match or Mismatch?

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Abstract

Cognitive model [CM] is the description of individual’s problem-solving method on selected tasks at a precise level to make meaningful inference on his/her strengths and weaknesses. CM serves as a foundation in developing a cognitive diagnostic assessment [CDA] that links the interpretation of test score to the attributes. This study employed the CDA involving “Time” which was developed under the framework of assessment triangle and Attribute Hierarchy Method [AHM]. In this study, the expert-based cognitive model was generated by 7 experienced primary mathematics teachers while the student-based cognitive model was generated based on 259 Year 6 pupils’ responses in the CDA. The consistency between these cognitive models was calculated by using Hierarchical Consistency Index [HCI] and triangulated by pupils’ interview transcript. Hence, this paper aims to discuss the consistency of structure between the expert-based cognitive models and the student-based cognitive models. The extent of match between the expert-based and the student-based cognitive models is important as it determines the validity of the expert-based cognitive model from students’ perspective. In general, all the 3 expert-based cognitive models were excellently fit with the student-based cognitive models. However, the result shows that the cognitive models of those pupils who scored 50% and below exhibited poor fit to the expert-based cognitive models. Results of the study implied that the proposed CMs are able to predict pupils’ responses and there is a need to construct CM which is suitable for low ability pupils in order to help them in studying the topic of “Time.”

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Funding

The study reported in this paper was made possible by the generous support from the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) of the Malaysian Ministry of Education and Universiti Sains Malaysia (Account No. 203/PGURU/6711344).

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Correspondence to Carolyn Jia Ling Sia.

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Sia, C.J.L., Lim, C.S., Chew, C.M. et al. Expert-Based Cognitive Model and Student-Based Cognitive Model in the Learning of “Time”: Match or Mismatch?. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 17, 1089–1107 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-018-9916-9

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