Imitative problem solving: Why transfer of learning often fails to occur

Abstract

The paper presents empirical evidence for imitativeproblem solving and the Interpretation Theorydescribed in Robertson and Kahney (1996). According tothe theory beginners use imitation as their primary problem solving method when learning about an unfamiliar domain. Imitative problem solving can explain much of the evidence that analogical transfereven within a domain is often hard to find. The paperpresents an analysis of algebra word problems topredict in detail exactly where solvers will havedifficulty in using a worked out example to solveeither a close or distant variant of the problem type.In a 2 × between-groups design, secondary schoolstudents were given an explanation of an algebra wordproblem taken from Reed et al. (1985)or an explanation of the problem that also includedinformation about how the solution could be adapted tosolve a distant variant. They were then given eithera close or distant variant to solve. Results were inline with the predictions derived from theInterpretation Theory analysis.