PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEMS WITH A LIMITING REACTANT
PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSMENT OF THE COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEMS WITH A LIMITING REACTANT

Author(s): Saša A. Horvat, Dušica D. Rodić, Tamara N. Rončević, Snežana S. Babić-Kekez, Bojana Trifunović Horvat
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, School education, Pedagogy
Published by: Scientia Socialis, UAB
Keywords: chemistry education; stoichiometry; problem tasks; achievement; mental effort;
Summary/Abstract: Mathematical calculations are an important part of chemistry. Those problems are difficult for students, especially if the task is set with a limiting reactant. The aim of this study was development of a Procedure for evaluation of cognitive complexity of the Stoichiometric Tasks with a Limiting Reactant. The procedure created included an assessment of the difficulty of concepts and an assessment of their interactivity. As a research instrument for assessing performance, the test of knowledge was specifically constructed for this research. Each task in the test was followed by a seven-point Likert scale for the evaluation of the invested mental effort. The research included 58 upper-secondary students. The validity of the procedure was confirmed by a series of regression analyses where statistically significant correlation coefficients are obtained among the examined variables: students’ achievement and invested mental effort from cognitive complexity (independent variable).

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