Resolving Mixtures of Strategies in Spatial Visualization Tasks

Abstract

The models of standard test theory, having evolved under a trait-oriented psychology, do not reflect the knowledge structures and the problem-solving strategies now seen as central to understanding performance and learning. In some applications, however, key qualitative distinctions among persons as to structures and strategies can be expressed through mixtures of test theory models, drawing upon substantive theory to delineate the components of the mixture. This approach is illustrated with response latencies to spatial visualization tasks that can be solved by mental rotation or by a nonspatial rule-based strategy. It is assumed that a subject employs the same strategy on all tasks, but the possibility of extending the approach to strategy-switching is discussed. Keywords: Algorithms, Item-solving strategies, Mental rotation, Mixture models, Spatial visualization.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA225494

Entities

People

  • Marilyn S. Wingersky
  • Peter L. Dann
  • Robert J. Mislevy
  • Sidney H. Irvine

Organizations

  • Educational Testing Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Army Personnel
  • Classification
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Science
  • Contracts
  • Education
  • Educational Psychology
  • Learning
  • Mental Processes
  • Military Research
  • Personnel Management
  • Personnel Selection
  • Probability
  • Psychology
  • Rotation
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence