Thinking Aloud Research Articles

A Social Anxiety Mobile Intervention for College Students Attending Therapy: A Usability and Acceptability Study

ABSTRACT Social anxiety is significantly prevalent among college students and frequently leads to school dropout and academic underachievement. Since university counseling services are often overburdened, a mobile-based cognitive behavioral intervention was designed to support students attending therapy for social anxiety and therapists. Our main goals are to evaluate usability and acceptability of this technological system developed by a multidisciplinary team. Twenty students and three therapists participated in the usability studies. To evaluate usability we utilized a thinking aloud and question asking protocol, and the system usability scale (SUS) to assess usability and satisfaction. SPICA app demonstrated usability scores above average and the large majority of students agreed that the app was easy to use and that they would use it frequently. As for the therapist platform (database) preliminary results indicated that the database is useful but some alterations are still necessary. SPICA app demonstrated usability and acceptability among college students. A more rigorous study is needed to assess the therapist platform but preliminary results demonstrate acceptability.

Usability Evaluation of an Offline Electronic Data Capture App in a Prospective Multicenter Dementia Registry (digiDEM Bayern): Mixed Method Study.

BackgroundDigital registries have been shown to provide an efficient way of gaining a better understanding of the clinical complexity and long-term progression of diseases. The paperless method of electronic data capture (EDC) during a patient interview saves both time and resources. In the prospective multicenter project “Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria (digiDEM Bayern),” interviews are also performed on site in rural areas with unreliable internet connectivity. It must be ensured that EDC can still be performed in such a context and that there is no need to fall back on paper-based questionnaires. In addition to a web-based data collection solution, the EDC system REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) offers the option to collect data offline via an app and to synchronize it afterward.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of the REDCap app as an offline EDC option for a lay user group and to examine the necessary technology acceptance of using mobile devices for data collection. The feasibility of the app-based offline data collection in the digiDEM Bayern dementia registry project was then evaluated before going live.MethodsAn exploratory mixed method design was employed in the form of an on-site usability test with the “Thinking Aloud” method combined with an online questionnaire including the System Usability Scale (SUS). The acceptance of mobile devices for data collection was surveyed based on five categories of the technology acceptance model.ResultsUsing the “Thinking Aloud” method, usability issues were identified and solutions were accordingly derived. Evaluation of the REDCap app resulted in a SUS score of 74, which represents “good” usability. After evaluating the technology acceptance questionnaire, it can be concluded that the lay user group is open to mobile devices as interview tools.ConclusionsThe usability evaluation results show that a lay user group generally agree that data collecting partners in the digiDEM project can handle the REDCap app well. The usability evaluation provided statements about positive aspects and could also identify usability issues relating to the REDCap app. In addition, the current technology acceptance in the sample showed that heterogeneous groups of different ages with diverse experiences in handling mobile devices are also ready for the use of app-based EDC systems. Based on these results, it can be assumed that the offline use of an app-based EDC system on mobile devices is a viable solution for collecting data in a decentralized registry–based research project.

ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY: AN ELEVATOR WITH AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA SURFACE

AbstractThis exploratory research paper discusses the importance of experiential qualities in products that have accessible and assistive uses. The focus is on products that may have an ambiguous user experience. Concepts of multisensory user experience and accessibility are presented as an introduction to the topic.The paper builds on the findings of a preliminary user study that was conducted in a joint multi-national and cross-industrial project that was externally funded. In the study, users’ experiences of an accessible means of transport, an elevator prototype with an interactive media surface, were explored. The study comprised a thinking aloud task and a design game.The demonstrated colours, lights and their movements created various kinds of associations among the participating users. The participants also ideated about the product’s alternative applications, some of which concerned accessibility, while others extended beyond it.The findings show that adding experiential product qualities enhances the user experience in terms of various associations and applications that extend beyond accessibility and the original use.

Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) Terhadap Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Matematika pada Materi Bentuk Aljabar

This study aims to determine the effect of Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) learning model on mathematical problem solving abilities in the form of algebra material. This type of research is a quasi experiment with the posttest only design with a nonequivalent group. The population in this study were 7th grade students of SMPN 1 Mataram in the academic year of 2019/2020. Sample determination using purposive sampling technique, where the sample of this study is students of class VII-I as an experimental class and students of class VII-H as a control class. In the experimental class applied the TAPPS learning model and control class applied the direct learning model. The instrument used in this study was a test of mathematical problem-solving abilities (posttest) on algebra form material. Quantitative data analysis was performed using t-test. The results of the data analysis showed that there are significant differences in students' mathematical problem solving abilities between the classes that get the TAPPS learning and direct learning. This suggests that learning with the Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) model affects the ability to solve mathematical problems in the form of algebra material.

A Mobile Health App for Premarital Related Word Advice (AmeeSehat): Usability and Usefulness Evaluation Study

Background:Premarital counseling demonstrates promising approach for enhancing interaction between couples and to prevent deterioration in the well-being of relationships. Mobile health (mHealth) apps may provide an appropriate solution to this issue, as many potential brides and grooms are frequent users of internet or web-based health info.
 Aim:This research aimed to measure the usability and usefulness of the AmeeSehat App as interpreted by potential end users.
 Method: This study employed a mixed method carried out in one of the public-health centers in East Jakarta, Indonesia with the future bride and groom. Think Aloud (TA) sessions with participants (n=10 final users and 3 experts) and quantitative assessment with 60 participants were held.A think aloud meetings have been captured, transcripts, and analyzed. The usability issues were evaluated using Nielsen severity scale and the Device Usability Scale (SUS). The usefulness of the AmeeSehat App was assessed using a tool to evaluate an improvement in healthy family knowledge, attitude, and intention, and readiness to marry.
 Results: The SUS score obtained (mean=78.4, SD=6.83), and none of the participants experienced (severe) problems with usability. Only 1 usability problems have been reported with a severity of 3 (major), namely terminology issues. The change after using AmeeSehat was statistically significant different as McNemar test revealed p <0.05.
 Conclusion:This researcher revealed that, in terms of its usability and usefulness, the AmeeSehat app is feasible to future brides and grooms. Participants considered AmeeSehat beneficial because they had the opportunity to learn more about a stable home life in preparation for marriage. Further assessment should be carried out in the form of a randomized controlled trial to test AmeeSehat's effectiveness in enhancing awareness, attitude, intention and readiness.

PMH36 Think-Aloud Interviews in Health-Related Resource-Use Research: Application in the PECUNIA Project

Individuals may encounter various problems when completing resource-use measurement (RUM) instruments for health economics research purposes, compromising the validity of the responses. These problems are often overlooked during the development stage of RUM instruments, yet they can be mitigated if respondents are involved in the development process. One way to incorporate their perspective is by employing qualitative methods such as the think-aloud (TA) approach. This method allows researchers to gain insight into the thinking processes and experiences of the respondents when completing a RUM instrument. Nevertheless, its use in RUM-related research is limited and little methodological guidance on the use of these methods is available. Therefore, this study describes the protocol for employing TA interviews in the development process of the PECUNIA RUM instrument. The protocol for conducting TA interviews was iteratively developed by a multi-national working group of health economists from the PECUNIA consortium. Additional expertise was sought from the literature on qualitative research methods and by consulting persons with experience in qualitative research. The protocol serves to harmonize the TA interviews in four countries (Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and the United Kingdom) by describing a uniform approach. The protocol describes the steps in chronological order including a description of the events before (translation, recruitment, training), during (setting, opening, completing the instrument, open ended questions, closing), and after the interview (transcription, data analysis). As qualitative methods have not been widely used in RUM-related research, this study adds value by increasing transparency in applied qualitative research in the field of health economics. This protocol was developed within the PECUNIA project and aims to harmonize multi-national TA interviews for pilot testing of the PECUNIA RUM instrument. This protocol can also serve as a guide for researchers who want to conduct TA studies in the field of health economics.

Motivating healthcare professionals (nurses, nurse assistants, physicians) to integrate new practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections into the care continuum: turning Positive Deviance into positive norms

BackgroundThe literature examining healthcare-associated infections (HAI) points to two main problems in conforming to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines among healthcare professionals (HP). One is the discrepancy between HPs’ behavioral intentions and their implementation in practice. The other refers to how HPs maintain these practices after the intervention stage ends. The method proposed in this study seeks to address both these issues by using the Positive Deviance (PD) approach to focus on the dissemination stage of interventions. The study seeks to offer a method for disseminating 27 PD practices to 135 HPs, among them nurses, nurse assistants and physicians, so as to help them maintain IPC guidelines, offer feedback on the dissemination process and examine the impact of the dissemination stage on changes in their behavior.MethodsThe theoretical model underlying this qualitative research was the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, which we implemented in the field of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Moreover, we used the Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD) and Think Aloud (TA) techniques to describe the methodological development of simulations for HPs. Feedback from the HP demonstrators underwent content analysis, while descriptive statistics were used to characterize behavioral changes.ResultsHPs’ information processing regarding infection prevention shifts from peripheral/automatic processing to intuition and analytical/central processing, turning PD practices into positive norms. The HPs personally experienced finding a solution and made repeated corrections until they overcame the barriers. Most of the HPs (69.4%) reported that the practices were fully implemented, together with additional practices.ConclusionsImplementation of the dissemination stage indicates that in order for HPs to integrate and assimilate practices that are not in the official guidelines, merely observing simulations is not sufficient. Rather, each staff member must personally carry out the procedures.

Script Concordance and the Think-Aloud Approach Through the Lens of Cognitive Apprenticeship Theory.

Script concordance (SC) and the think-aloud (TA) approach informed by cognitive apprenticeship theory can promote clinical reasoning. The purpose of this study was to determine whether SC with the TA approach based on the tenets of cognitive apprenticeship theory facilitated clinical reasoning in senior-level prelicensure nursing students in a baccalaureate program. This study was executed in a didactic pediatric nursing course using a quantitative, nonexperimental design. Creation of the SC/TA learning activity was grounded in cognitive apprenticeship theory and based on the SC testing/TA testing method. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a difference (P = .001 and .003) between earlier and later SC scores for the fall 2018 cohort. The SC/TA teaching/learning activity informed by cognitive apprenticeship theory offers a leveled approach to foster clinical reasoning in prelicensure nursing education.

Evaluation of a clinical decision support system for rare diseases: a qualitative study

BackgroundRare Diseases (RDs) are difficult to diagnose. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) could support the diagnosis for RDs. The Medical Informatics in Research and Medicine (MIRACUM) consortium developed a CDSS for RDs based on distributed clinical data from eight German university hospitals. To support the diagnosis for difficult patient cases, the CDSS uses data from the different hospitals to perform a patient similarity analysis to obtain an indication of a diagnosis. To optimize our CDSS, we conducted a qualitative study to investigate usability and functionality of our designed CDSS.MethodsWe performed a Thinking Aloud Test (TA-Test) with RDs experts working in Rare Diseases Centers (RDCs) at MIRACUM locations which are specialized in diagnosis and treatment of RDs. An instruction sheet with tasks was prepared that the participants should perform with the CDSS during the study. The TA-Test was recorded on audio and video, whereas the resulting transcripts were analysed with a qualitative content analysis, as a ruled-guided fixed procedure to analyse text-based data. Furthermore, a questionnaire was handed out at the end of the study including the System Usability Scale (SUS).ResultsA total of eight experts from eight MIRACUM locations with an established RDC were included in the study. Results indicate that more detailed information about patients, such as descriptive attributes or findings, can help the system perform better. The system was rated positively in terms of functionality, such as functions that enable the user to obtain an overview of similar patients or medical history of a patient. However, there is a lack of transparency in the results of the CDSS patient similarity analysis. The study participants often stated that the system should present the user with an overview of exact symptoms, diagnosis, and other characteristics that define two patients as similar. In the usability section, the CDSS received a score of 73.21 points, which is ranked as good usability.ConclusionsThis qualitative study investigated the usability and functionality of a CDSS of RDs. Despite positive feedback about functionality of system, the CDSS still requires some revisions and improvement in transparency of the patient similarity analysis.

A pilot study investigating cortical haemodynamic and physiological correlates of exercise cognition in trained and untrained cyclists over an incremental self-paced performance test, while thinking aloud

ObjectivesFew studies have directly investigated changes in cortical haemodynamics during a self-paced interval endurance activity, while collecting conscious cognition and physiological performance data. This pilot study used functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), while capturing conscious cognition using Think Aloud (TA) during an incremental paced cycling exercise. MethodsA mixed design was implemented with cycling expertise (untrained vs. trained) as the between groups variable and incremental self-paced stage (5 stages of increasing effort) and site (12 optodes across the PFC) as the within groups variables. Dependent measures were the changes in cortical O2Hb, and physiological indicators (% heart rate max (%HRmax), average power output (APO), peak power output (PPO), rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate (Bla)) over time. Participants used TA throughout their second interval trial. ResultsTrained cyclists had higher APO and maximum power output (MPO) from stages 2–5, in addition to a greater increase in PPO over the whole trial. There were significant main effects of stage on %HRmax, Bla and RPE. Differences in cortical haemodynamics were found specifically in areas in the mid left and right PFC. TA data demonstrated that untrained participants verbalised more irrelevant information and feelings of pain and fatigue, in addition to both groups verbalising significantly more motivation-related thoughts during the final stage. ConclusionThis pilot is the first to capture changes in Cox, physiological measures and conscious cognition through the use of TA. We demonstrate the potential role of mid- PFC, and how conscious cognition may change over time. This study has implications for coaches and sport psychologists who may want to understand the cognitions of their athlete during an event and support low level athletes in developing a better understanding of the own cognitions.

Competencies and behaviors observed when students solve geometry proof problems: an interview study with smartpen technology

Decades of research have established that solving geometry proof problems is a challenging endeavor for many students. Consequently, researchers have called for investigations that explore which aspects of proving in geometry are difficult and why this is the case. Here, results from a set of 20 interviews with students who were taught proof in school geometry are reported. Students who earned A or B course-grades in the proof unit(s) were asked to share their thinking aloud while solving two proof tasks using smartpens. Student thinking was analyzed for two subgroups—students who were successful with both proofs (n = 7) and who were unsuccessful with both proofs (n = 13). Large differences were observed in how often students in the two groups exhibited certain competencies and behaviors. The largest gaps occurred in the ways in which students attended to the proof assumptions, attended to warrants in their proofs, and demonstrated logical reasoning.

Towards a framework of cognitive processes during competitive golf using the Think Aloud method

ObjectivesMost research to date that has investigated cognitive processes in golf using the Think Aloud (TA) method has analysed data deductively and using statistical methods. Such an approach, however, can lead to potentially relevant data being overlooked and assumes that a priori coding schemes are valid reflections of a phenomenon. Therefore, to enable the generation of novel insights, this study sought to qualitatively explore cognitive processes in golf by inductively analysing TA data captured during competition. MethodSeventeen adolescent golfers (male n = 16; female n = 1, M handicap = 5.43) were asked to verbalise their thoughts while playing a 6-hole competitive round of golf. Data were analysed thematically in relation to the pre-shot and post-shot phases by each author independently, with the final findings produced collaboratively and through the use of trustworthiness procedures. ResultsCognitive processes during the pre-shot and post-shot phases were each captured by six themes. Some cognitive processes were consistently evident across shots, while others differed depending on the context. Before shots, the players consistently reported: monitoring; planning; and situational appraisals. Additionally, shots were followed by: monitoring; reviewing, evaluating, and planning; and situational appraisals. Before and after shots, the players also described context-specific: affective responses; distraction; and psychological skills. ConclusionsThe study demonstrated the benefits of moving beyond deductively analysing and quantifying cognitions by using an inductive approach to analyse TA data. The findings extend current knowledge by illustrating the dynamic and often deliberative process that occurs during the decision making process in golf.

Thinking Aloud. A qualitative analysis of stressors and coping responses in cricket bowlers during a competitive match

ABSTRACT Stressors and coping in cricket bowlers have yet to be explicitly examined. The present study aimed to investigate stressors and coping verbalisations of cricket bowlers during a competitive match using a Think Aloud (TA) method. TA provides access to a participant’s immediate short-term memory and overcomes limitations associated with retrospective methods such as recall bias and memory decay. Six semi-elite club level cricket bowlers were selected to verbalise their thoughts during a bowling spell in a real-life competitive match using TA. Verbalisations were recorded using an audio device and transcripts were thematically analysed to generate relevant stressors and coping themes. Findings indicated stressors and coping strategies varied throughout cricket bowling performance. Results also highlighted how stressors and coping responses represent a dynamic and recursive process and do not occur in isolation of one of another. Stressors were made up of organisational and competitive stressors and coping responses were coded using problem-focussed coping and emotion-focussed coping strategies. The findings from this study have extended previous literature by further understanding the stressors and coping responses of cricket bowlers by adopting a novel method of data collection, within an ecologically valid environment of real-life cricket competition. Applied implications and future research suggestions are discussed accordingly within the concluding remarks.

Pediatric Hospitalists' Performance and Perceptions of Script Concordance Testing for Self-Assessment.

The cognitive expertise of Pediatric Hospitalists (PH) lies not in standard knowledge but in making decisions under conditions of uncertainty. To maintain expertise, PH should engage in deliberate practice via self-assessments that promote higher-level cognitive processes necessary to address problems with missing or ambiguous information. Higher levels of cognition are purported with Script Concordance Test (SCT) questions compared to Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). To determine if PH use higher levels of cognition when answering SCT versus MCQ questions and to analyze participants' perceptions of the utility of using SCT self-assessment for deliberate practice in addressing clinical problems encountered in daily practice. This is a mixed methods study comparing the cognitive level expressed according to Bloom's Taxonomy by PH answering MCQ versus SCT questions using a "think aloud" (TA) exercise, followed by qualitative analysis of interviews conducted afterward. A significantly greater percentage of comments were coded as higher cognitive processes (apply, analyze, evaluate, and create) for SCT versus MCQ (74% vs 19%) compared with lower order (remember, understand); chi-square P < .00001. Analysis of interviews revealed 6 themes. SCT questions elicited higher level cognition essential to clinical reasoning compared to MCQ questions. PH-indicated MCQ questions measure standard knowledge, while SCT questions better measure decision-making under conditions of uncertainty. PH-perceived SCT could be useful for deliberate practice in Pediatric Hospital Medicine decision-making if they could compare their rationale in answering questions with that of experts.

Reading Comprehension of Subject-specific Texts in a Foreign Language

This study investigates the patterns used by economics and business students in reading comprehension (RC) of subject-specific texts in a foreign language (FL), particularly in relation to their use of background knowledge (BK). The think-aloud (TA) method was used and the data were derived from readers’ verbal protocols. The coding of protocols yielded seventeen coding categories. The results were analysed and compared between two groups: one with high and one with low knowledge as determined by a prior BK assessment. The coding data were linked to the reading comprehension test results and typical patterns were established. Readers with high BK used more correct paraphrasing, inferencing, elaboration, and evaluation. In contrast, readers with low BK took more of a local approach to reading by focusing more on individual words. They frequently used English in their Slovene think-alouds, produced wrong and approximate paraphrases, and signalled lack of understanding. The article closes by examining implications for FL reading instruction and developing disciplinary literacy.

Using a “Think Aloud” protocol to understand meta-attention in club-level golfers

ABSTRACT At present, there is only a theoretical understanding of the role of meta-attention in golf and there is no research that studies the real-time cognitive processes that construct meta-attention. Therefore, this study sought to explore the real-time meta-attentional processes experienced by golfers within a performance as this would develop a further understanding of concentration during performance. Seven intermediate level golfers (Handicap M = 14.43) performed over 6 holes using Think Aloud (TA) Level 3. Players’ verbalisations were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then were subjected to verbal protocol analysis. Analysis revealed several metacognitions, control strategies and game situation thoughts during performance. Attentional metacognitions varied by the shot, however, consistent control routines were used throughout. The insights into meta-attentional processes captured lend support to the theoretical understanding of meta-attention, and show that golfers tended to externalise their attentional focus during performance, additionally golfers frequently focused their attention towards environmental information related to their game situation. The results allow for a further understanding of the higher-order processes of concentration and can be brought forward to further theoretical understanding and shape attention training given to golfers.

THINKING ALOUD PROTOCOL FOR SMART TRANSLATION

A language is an important tool in communication. To produce a smooth relationship between countries that have different languages, the English language functions as Lingua Franca. To understand the information in English, a good understanding is needed. Being able to translate English texts is one of the basic forms of understanding itself. Unfortunately, numerous English language learners; from junior high schools to university levels, are still experiencing problems in this translation. This study aims to uncover the strategies of students in translating English texts into Indonesian by using the Thinking Aloud Protocol method. The subjects of this study were students in semester V (five) who had gone through Structure I to Structure IV subjects. This research was conducted in the scope of the University of Muhammadiyah Palu. From this research, the most widely used translation strategy is done by students as well as the prototype of the translation process to produce good translations

Peningkatan Kemampuan Komunikasi Matematis Melalui Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) Pada Siswa Kelas VIII MTs Bahrul Ulum

This study aims to see whether or not there is an increase in mathematical communication skills by applying the Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) learning model in class VIII students of MTs Bahrul Ulum. This research is a Quasi-Experimental study with the design of the randomized pretest-posttest control group design. The population in this study were all students of class VIII MTs Bahrul Ulum. The sample was taken by simple random sampling so that two classes were selected as the sample, namely class VIII C as the experimental class and class VIII D as the control class. The research instrument was a test item mathematical communication description. The data from the communication test results that have been obtained are then analyzed to test the hypothesis. Because the data were not normally distributed, then the hypothesis was tested using the Mann Whitney test. The calculation results showed that Zcount > Ztable, namely 3.226 > 1.96 for a = 0.05, then H0 was rejected. So it can be concluded that there is an increase in mathematical communication skills through the application of the Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) learning model in class VIII students of MTs Bahrul Ulum in the 2019/ 2020 academic year.

An investigation of expertise in cycling: Eye tracking, Think Aloud and the influence of a competitor

ObjectivesTwo studies investigated expert-novice differences in information-seeking behaviour, cognitions and performance during cycling time trials (TT). Study 1 examined trained and novice cyclist’s cognitions whilst performing a TT, using a Think Aloud (TA) protocol and eye-tracking techniques. Study 2 investigated expertise differences during alone and competitive TTs. Methodsin Study 1, six trained and seven novice cyclists performed a 16.1 km TT. In Study 2, eight trained and ten novice cyclists performed three 16.1 km TT; a baseline TT, an alone TT and a trial against a virtual competitor. In both studies, participants were asked to TA and in Study 1 they also wore mobile gaze-tracking glasses. Performance feedback and a simulated TT course were visually displayed during all trials, as was a virtual avatar during the competitor trial. Verbalisations were coded into primary and secondary themes. Cognitions and pacing strategies were compared between groups and across the duration of the TTs. In Study 1, eye-tracking data for total dwell time and gaze frequency were calculated for each area of interest (Time Elapsed, Power, Heart Rate, Cadence, Distance Covered, Speed and Course Scenery). ResultsIn Study 1, no significant differences were found in information-seeking behaviour between groups, however there were expertise differences in the cognitive strategies used. Trained cyclists’ verbalisations were more performance-relevant (i.e., power output), whereas the untrained group were more focused on task completion (i.e., distance and time) and irrelevant information. Both groups talked more about distance and motivational thoughts in the later stages of the trial, and dwell time on distance feedback also increased in this final 4 km. In Study 2, the trained group performed faster than the untrained group but there were no significant differences in pace or performance between alone and competitive TTs for either group. Differences in cognitions were found between groups and across the TT duration. ConclusionBoth studies demonstrate that cognitive processes differ as a function of expertise during self-paced cycling time trials. There were no differences in information-seeking behaviour between trained and untrained cyclists and there was no effect of an opponent on pace or performance.

Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving (TAPPS) Method: The Effect of Understanding Physics Concepts and Communication in High Schools in Indonesia

The purpose of this research is to improve the understanding of scientific concepts and communication of high school students in Indonesia. The method used in this research is quasi experiment method with the pre-test and post-test. Subjects of the research were obtained from random cluster sampling with 60 students. The experimental class was given treatment of the Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving method and the control class was given the treatment of the discussion method. The results of this study indicate an increase between the pre-test and post-test understanding of concepts and scientific communication both in the experimental class and the control class. However, the experimental class experienced more significant escalation with an effect size value of 0.3 in the medium category. The further research need to be applied the use of Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving method in more than one class to see the consistency of Thinking Aloud Pair Problem Solving method in improving students’ understanding of concepts and scientific communication.