Using Structural Variables to Predict Word - Problem Solving Difficulty for Junior College Arithmetic Students.

ABSTRACT This study identified and defined 30 structural variables related to problem solving. Four dependent variables (only one, percent correct, is analyzed in this report) were derived from data retained by the computer from 172 arithmetic word problems presented to and solved by junior college students on IBM 2741 computer terminals. The structural and dependent variables were combined into a stepwise regression analysis in order to predict problem solving difficulty. The order of importance of the 30 structural variables was determined, and the goodness of fit of the model was analyzed by using F and Chi-square tests. Results showed that the variable "memory 2" (recall) was highly significant for predicting the difficulty of word problems and accounted for 47 percent of the variance. (DT)

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