How Experts Solve a Novel Problem within Their Domain of Expertise (Hoe Experts een Nieuw Probleem Binnen hun Expertisegebied Oplossen)

Abstract

Research on expert-novice differences has mainly focused on how experts solve familiar problems. We know far less about the skills and knowledge used by experts when they are confronted with novel problems within their area of expertise. This report discusses a study in which verbal protocols were taken from subjects of various expertise designing an experiment in an area they were unfamiliar with. The results showed that even when domain knowledge is lacking, experts solve a problem within their area of expertise by dividing the problem into a number of subproblems that are solved in a specified order. The lack of domain knowledge is compensated for by using abstract knowledge structures and domain-specific strategies. The results suggest that experts are confronted with novel problems, they can bring to bear various types of knowledge and strategies that enable them to outperform novices. Keywords: Netherlands, Dutch language, Translations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 02, 1990
Accession Number
ADA229702

Entities

People

  • J. M. Schraagen

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Chi Square Test
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Experimental Design
  • Expert Systems
  • Information Processing
  • Market Research
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Statistics
  • Students
  • Task Performance And Analysis
  • Thinking

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Marine Propulsion Engineering and Naval Architecture
  • Systems Analysis and Design