Using Similarity Rating Tasks to Assess Case Reuse in Problem Solving

Case‐reuse strategies involve extracting the conceptual schema from previous cases and adapting them to new problems. Recognizing the deep structure differences and similarities between problems is essential for productive case reuse. We report on a semester‐long study with students participating in weekly focus group learning interviews to facilitate case reuse strategies. At the mid and end points of the study, students were interviewed individually to ascertain the effect of these strategies. During these interviews students were asked to rate the similarities between problem pairs. We report on the results from the similarity ratings as well as present a comparison with expert responses to these questions.