Development of a Game-Bases Assessment to Thinking Style

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 1:45pm
  In Poster Session: Poster Session II -- AERA Division D Section 1: Measurement, Psychometrics, and Assessment

Abstract

Sternberg's (1997) theory positions thinking style as distinct from ability and personality, influencing problem-solving strategies. Traditional scale-based assessments (e.g., STSI; Sternberg & Wagner, 1992; Luo, 2013) face limitations including participant disengagement, poor situational adaptability, and static measurement. To address this, a novel gamified assessment was developed using Evidence-Centered Design (ECD; Yuan & Luo, 2021), simulating business management tasks. A sample of 500 undergraduates completed the game alongside the STSI, GATB, and BNEF. Results demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability and significant correlations supporting discriminative validity with ability measures. The game-based approach offered enhanced engagement and ecological validity, providing a viable paradigm for assessing dimensions historically challenging to measure reliably.

Authors

• Xinyu Liu, Beijing Normal University

• Tianqi Wu, Beijing Normal University

• Ruofan zhang, Beijing Normal University

• Yinghui Tang, Beijing Normal University

• Yingshi Xu, Beijing Normal University