Cognitive Processes Associated with the Perception of Randomness

Abstract

In a study of novice teachers’ I investigate the conception of randomness among teachers college trainees thatstudy probability and statistics. I gave the students questionnaires which serve to explored their conception andproblem-solving approach with respect to probability problems, conception of randomness and deciding aboutthe randomness of sequences and arrays, solving a THOG type problem, which raise the use of matching biasescharacteristics. I will show that the students use a set of rules to solve these different categories of problems.There is a common heuristic for all or many of these problem solving categories: the problem solver relay onheuristics anchored on the symmetry and asymmetry of sets of objects or more abstract elements to decide onquestions like what is the probability of getting a certain sample in a random drawing of beads, the randomnessof an array; certain sequences are measured by looking at the amount of apparent order in-order to makedecisions concerning randomness and deviation from symmetry of the sample also effect the decision. Thischaracteristic heuristic approach of problem solvers is founded on a set of simple rules relating to order,deviation from symmetry, the distribution of patches in the plane and occurrence of ordered subsequences incertain linear arrangement of sequences.