The Influence of Resource Interdependence During Collaborative Problem-Solving: Tracking Changes in Knowledge Structure

• In Event: Collaboration Through Feedback, Problem-Solving, and Online Discussions

Abstract

This experimental investigation seeks to confirm and extend previous findings that resource interdependence (vs. independence) during well-structured problem-solving relatively extends problem representation and delays solution convergence. In this current investigation, ninth grade participants (n=240) worked online in either interdependent triads who were each provided with separate partial information or independent triads who were provided with full information to complete either a well-structured or an ill-structured problem. As anticipated, interdependent triads performed relatively better on the ill-structured problem (i.e., extended divergence observed) while independent triads were better for the well-structured problem (i.e., immediate solution-seeking; convergence observed). A knowledge structure analysis showed that the interdependent triad maps resembled the fully explicated problem space, while the independent triad maps resembled the problem solution.

Author

• Kyung Kim, Northern Illinois University