Modellierung und Messung domänenspezifischer Problemlösekompetenz bei angehenden Industriekaufleuten

Abstract

Daily working routines in offices increasingly require domain specific problem solving competence. According to our understanding, this involves - besides domain specific knowledge - self-regulation and metacognitive skills as well as non-cognitive competence facets (self-concept and interest). In the context of the German project network DomPL-IK (Domänenspezifische Problemlösekompetenz von Industriekaufleuten/Domain specific problem solving competence of industrial management assistants) we developed a multidimensional model of problem solving competence. Based on this model we created scenarios that require industrial management assistants in training to solve typical problems of their trade. We then tested the scenarios in a pilot study with 123 participants (n = 86 industrial management assistants, n = 37 management assistants in informatics). In the article at hand we focus on knowledge application. Problem solutions were analyzed in a fine-grained content analytic approach and then condensed into partial credits. Those were used to estimate competences with item response theory. As expected industrial management assistants score better than management assistants in informatics. This can be cautiously interpreted as an indicator for curricular validity of the scenarios. Moderate internal consistencies (reliabilities) and content-related difficulties in the problem solving process reveal room for improvement for the main study.