Structural analysis of science prose: can we increase problem-solving performance?

This chapter explores techniques for analyzing the structure and improving the understandability of science prose. Structure refers to a distinction between idea units that explain the mechanisms underlying a rule (explanative information) and idea units that do not (non-explanative information). Understandability is measured by tests of creative problem solving based on information in the passage. Science prose refers to a passage that contains a functional rule among two or more variables and an explanation of the underlying mechanisms. Three techniques are described for distinguishing explanative and non-explanative information: structural method, logical method, and empirical method. Then, research is provided concerning techniques that increase the subject's recall of explanative information, and thus the subject's problem-solving performance. These techniques include manipulating the reading strategy, such as by encouraging reflective or elaborative processing, and manipulating the text design, such as by organizing the text around key ideas or including a concrete model. Finally, some recommendations are suggested for improving science textbooks, with hopes that such recommendations will stimulate further research.

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