This thesis describes user interface and visualization components in the problem solving environment "Site-Specific System Simulator for Wireless System Design" (S4W) developed by CS and ECE faculty and students at Virginia Tech. S4W integrates visualization and computational tools with a high level user interface. The objective of this PSE is to improve the ability of wireless design engineers to design an indoor wireless system through the aid of various simulation and visualization components. S4W provides engineers with the facility of thinking in terms of the overall task of designing the system for optimal performance. They need not to worry about computation, data-management and connectivity issues. The choice of method for interaction between service logic within a PSE and its user is always a challenging issue. The selection of user interaction channel is mostly dictated by the characteristics of the problem domain. For S4W, we chose to build a graphical user interface as human interaction interface, which was connected to other components via a high speed Local Area Network (LAN). The other key form of user interaction in a PSE is the visual representations of the abstract data results of simulations, perceived as user interface for data. The Complex nature of data sets in the domain of wireless simulations calls for a customized set of visualization tools. To address the specific needs of visualizations for S4W, ad hoc visualization tools were developed and integrated into the graphical user interface. A comparison of the integrated PSE and an earlier collection of unintegrated tools and scripts is presented. / Master of Science

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Based on the notion that instructional design is a goal-directed problem-solving activity, this study seeks to describe and compare the ways that instructional designers organize and utilize problem information in making design decisions. Research in areas such as architectural, computer software and engineering design suggests that the design process involves identification and selection of a variety of elements from a large number of possible configurations. Designers tend to decompose design problems into smaller sub-problems which can be solved separately. Little is known about how problem information is used by instructional designers, but it is likely that the instructional design process is similar to design in other domains. Participants who had a minimum of five years of instructional design experience in a variety of settings accessed information contained on individual note cards in order to develop a tentative solution to a problem involving training for librarians. The data provided by videotapes of the think-aloud sessions was analyzed to determine which information was selected, the sequence in which the information was accessed, and the i strategies used to acquire the information and use it in designing a solution. Results indicated that certain categories of information, particularly information about the learner, l skills to be trained, time for training and available resources, were accessed more than others. Designers also tended to access the information in similar sequences. The descriptions provided by this research may help to achieve a better understanding of the instructional design process. Once we know how designers organize the process, it will be possible to track the development of instructional design expertise. / Ed. D.

This qualitative case study addressed the question, “What strategies and tactics do people use to access intuition in solving complex, ill-structured problems?” Such problems are not routine, well-defined, or solved by immediate application of well-known procedures or decision rules. A comprehensive literature review revealed a paucity of empirical data on accessing intuition during problem solving. Additionally, while some posited a relationship between ill-structured problems and intuitions, no studies existed linking the two. This study explored people’s specific actions at the moment when an overall solution becomes apparent to the problem solver. It focused on both the conscious actions people take to access their intuition (strategies) and on the conscious or unconscious skills, clusters of related skills, or procedures (tactics) they use (Gerber, 1983), as well as underlying tacit processes (Fischbein, 1987). Participants were 11 human resource managers. This group was chosen because its members frequently encounter complex, ill-structured problems or help others focus on how to solve such problems. Specific individuals were recommended by colleagues who considered them to be articulate and interested in intuition. They completed journals to document the moment of solution and participated in follow-up, in-depth interviews. To ensure internal validity, participants acted in the role of “co-researchers.” They reviewed manuscripts, journals, and interviews for accuracy and reviewed written narratives to ensure that their statements had been understood. Two corraborated the process of category construction. A qualitative content analysis of journal results indicated that in seven instances intuitions occurred when participants were with others and that these seven were listening in some fashion at the moment of solution. Further analysis, which incorporated the interviews, indicated that actions most frequently taken at the moment of intuition included immersion, searching, thinking—working on task, undirected thinking, making connections, and listening. Whether a given action was a Strategy, tactic, or tacit process depended on how deliberately people acted and how aware they were of their actions. Results also showed that problems were ill-structured and that intuitions had characteristics consistent with those identified by Fischbein (1987). Finally, the study found that, for the participants in this case study, the dynamics of intuition can be summed up with the following proposition: A propelling concern to solve a complex problem leads to continuous search and spontaneous combustion. Implications for future research suggest the need for a conceptual framework for studying intuition; extended research in the workplace and other settings, examining especially instances when people are with others at the moment of solution; a more in-depth investigation of actions to access intuition, focusing on specific actions such as listening as well as the sequencing of all actions; and inquiry into how people’s values and beliefs affect their actions. It is recommended that practitioners join in research efforts as well as engage learners in an exploration of their own actions to access intuition during problem solving. / Ed. D.

Thriving youth have the capacity to contribute to greater society and develop independence, mastery, generosity, and a sense of belonging. This development is frequently enhanced through youth programming as ability expansion rather than capacity for authority and community engagement. In Virginia 4-H teen-leadership initiatives infused with positive youth development provide opportunities to bolster active and engaged citizenship (AEC). The purpose of this study was to explain AEC through the examination of ethical factors, demographics, and problem-solving disposition of youth participating in leadership-development programs. This study utilized both person- and variable-centered analyses to develop youth profiles and determine the impact of ethical factors, demographics, and problem-solving disposition on AEC for participants in long-term 4-H teen-leadership programs and short-term 4-H leadership trainings. An ex post facto survey design was used to develop clusters of youth and explain the relationship between problem-solving disposition, demographics, ethical factors, and AEC. The findings indicated that both ethical factors and problem-solving disposition significantly explained AEC for both treatments. Additionally, findings indicated significant differences between clusters for AEC, civic duty, and civic skills. These differences were predominately observed through membership in long-term or short-term leadership programs as well as enrollment in honors/AP courses, gender, ethical views, and problem-solving disposition. Findings informed the incorporation of community problem-solving in the youth's AEC model. A conceptual model for Youth in Community Problem Solving (YCPS) was developed based on theory and findings. Sociocultural theory and reasoned actioned approach, situated within relational developmental systems metatheory, provided a foundation for the YCPS model. Additional literature on positive youth development, youth-leadership development, self-consciousness, sense of community, and problem-solving disposition was utilized in support of the model. Evidence for the inclusion of problem-solving disposition in the model was found through a recent study with youth in leadership programs. If youth are to engage in YCPS partnerships, both youth and adults should be equipped with the necessary tools and resources for equal partnership, so they can overcome power dynamics and inner team conflicts. Additionally, Youth leadership practitioners should consider avenues for infusing character and problem-solving development in gender inclusive program curriculum to increase likelihood for contribution. / Ph. D. / Youth are often not viewed as resources for community development. However, when equipped with the right skills, youth are able to contribute meaningfully as citizens. In Virginia 4-H, there are a variety of programs, clubs, and trainings that focus on citizenship and leadership development. Youth leadership programs are often used to prepare youth as future, rather than current, leaders. Character and problem-solving skills are pathways for increasing citizenship and civic participation. This study sought to examine how character, problem-solving views, and demographics relate to civic engagement of youth. I surveyed 4-H youth participating in year-round teen-leadership programs and camp-counselor or weekend-long leadership trainings. I found that positive views related to character and problem solving influenced youth citizenship regardless of participation in a year-round or weekend-long leadership program. I also found females in year-round programs and youth enrolled in honors/AP courses were more likely to contribute and engage in their communities. These findings led to the development of a model for engaging youth in community problem solving. This model includes relationships, personal development, leadership development, character, and problem-solving views as important elements for preparing youth to engage with community leaders on community issues. Youth leadership practitioners and Extension agents should consider ways to include character and problem-solving education in teen-leadership programs in order to prepare youth for community engagement. Further, youth must be provided opportunities for reflection and mentorship in civic engagement and community problem solving. By equipping youth with the tools necessary to participate in their communities, we can increase the diversity of ideas and solutions to community-based problems

International students in U.S. academic settings are facing barriers in the path of their academic accomplishments. In higher educational institutions, students work very closely with their academic advisors to solve a definite problem. Dependence on the academic advisor is much more when the advisee is international. Keeping these points in mind, one of the factors that might impact academic environment for an international student is the bonding that they share with their advisor. This research study determines the factors that encourage or discourage the relationship between the advisor and international advisee. More specifically, what factors, cultural or cognitive are more salient in defining the advising relationship, and how are coping behaviors being employed and by whom when differences between the working pair exists? Full-time international graduate students having at least one year of graduate school experience in U.S. academic settings and faculty advisors who had experience in advising international graduate students participated in this study. A total of 20 international students participated. All the participants completed the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) as a measure of problem-solving style. Of the 20 that completed the inventory, 14 participants from 10 different countries agreed to participate in a semi-structure interview. Additionally, five faculty advisors completed the KAI inventory and three faculty advisors participated in an interview. Findings of the study are: 1) a link exists between participants' problem-solving styles and their expectations for the advising relationship; 2) cultural difference outside academia had no impact on academic progress of international students; 3) acculturation into American academic culture seemed essential for academic success of international students in U.S academic settings; 4) international students wanted their home country culture to be acknowledged in a multicultural settings; 5) success of advising relationship seemed to be dependent upon how much the advisor and the advisee exhibited coping behavior; 6) acknowledging the differences and accepting a person in a holistic manner as a separate identity worked best in a multicultural settings; and 7) developing a human connect between the advisor and advisee seemed to be vital for a successful and academically productive advising relationship. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / International students in U.S. academic settings are facing barriers in the path of their academic accomplishments. In higher educational institutions, students work very closely with their academic advisors to solve a definite problem. Dependence on the academic advisor is much more when the advisee is international. Keeping these points in mind, one of the factors that might impact academic environment for an international student is the bonding that they share with their advisor. This research study determines the factors that encourage or discourage the relationship between the advisor and international advisee. More specifically, what factors, cultural or cognitive are more salient in defining the advising relationship, and how are coping behaviors being employed and by whom when differences between the working pair exists? Fulltime international graduate students having at least one year of graduate school experience in U.S. academic settings and faculty advisors who had experience in advising international graduate students participated in this study. A total of 20 international students participated. All the participants completed the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) as a measure of problem-solving style. Of the 20 that completed the inventory, 14 participants from 10 different countries agreed to participate in a semi-structure interview. Additionally, five faculty advisors completed the KAI inventory and three faculty advisors participated in an interview. Findings of the study are: 1) a link exists between participants’ problem-solving styles and their expectations for the advising relationship; 2) cultural difference outside academia had no impact on academic progress of international students; 3) acculturation into American academic culture seemed essential for academic success of international students in U.S academic settings; 4) international students wanted their home country culture to be acknowledged in a multicultural settings; 5) success of advising relationship seemed to be dependent upon how much the advisor and the advisee exhibited coping behavior; 6) acknowledging the differences and accepting a person in a holistic manner as a separate identity worked best in a multicultural settings; and 7) developing a human connect between the advisor and advisee seemed to be vital for a successful and academically productive advising relationship.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of tenderness on problem solving. Thirty-four female undergraduates participated. In the experimental condition, participants received instructions to reproduce a specific respiratory-posturo-facial pattern that had induced tenderness in previous studies. Participants in the control condition performed a non-emotional exercise. After either the pattern or the control exercise, participants completed one of two jigsaw puzzles. One puzzle had only an empty room while the other had a family scene. For participants who worked on the room puzzle, the tenderness pattern led to longer completion times. In contrast, for participants who worked on the family puzzle, the tenderness pattern led to shorter completion times.

Information system (IS) support of human problem solving during the complex task of auditing within a computer environment was investigated. 74 computer audit specialist professionals from nine firms participated in the field experiment. Task accomplishment behavior was recorded via a computerized activity-logging technique. Theoretical constructs of interest included: 1) IS problem-solving support, 2) task domain knowledge, and 3) decision-making behavior. It was theorized that task domain knowledge influences the type of IS most functionally appropriate for usage by that individual. IS task presentation served as the treatment variable. Task domain knowledge was investigated as a moderating factor of task accomplishment Task accomplishment, the dependent variable, was defined as search control strategy and quality of task performance. A subject's task domain knowledge was assessed over seven theoretical domains. Subjects were assigned to higher or lower task domain knowledge groups based on performance on professional competency examination questions. Research hypothesis one investigated the effects of task domain knowledge on task accomplishment behavior. Several task domain knowledge bases were found to influence both search control strategy and task performance. Task presentation ordering effects, hypothesis two, were not found to significantly influence search control strategy or task performance. The third hypothesis investigated interaction effects of a subject's task domain knowledge and task presentation ordering treatments on task accomplishment behavior. An interaction effect was found to influence the subject's search control strategy. The computer-specific knowledge base and task presentation ordering treatments were found to interact as joint moderators of search control strategy. Task performance was not found to be significantly influenced by interaction effects. Users' task accomplishment was modeled based upon problem-solving behavior. A subject's level of task domain knowledge was found to serve as a moderating factor of IS usage. Human information-processing strategies, IS usage, and task domain knowledge were integrated into a comprehensive IS user task model. This integrated model provides a robust characterization scheme for IS problem-solving support in a complex task environment.

A questão desta pesquisa é investigar a Resolução de Problemas aplicada à situações-problema da OBMEP (Olimpíada Brasileira das Escolas Públicas) em sala de aula, na tentativa de despertar no aluno o gosto pela Matemática, colaborando para o ensino-aprendizagem, construção do espírito crítico e tomada de decisões quanto cidadão. Nos apoiamos em Polya (2006), Dante (1991), Onuchic e Allevato (2004), Mendes (2009), Pozo et al. (1998), Baldin et al. (2012) e documentos oficiais (BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Fundamental (1997), BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Fundamental (1998), BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Média e Tecnológica (1999) e SÃO PAULO (Estado). Secretaria da Educação (2011)). Apresentamos a Resolução de Problemas e as etapas propostas por George Polya (2006) em seu livro, A arte de resolver problemas. Nossa investigação constitui uma pesquisa-ação qualitativa (Lüdke e André (2001), André (2008) e Bogdan e Biklen (1994)), na medida que desenvolvemos uma atividade no 8o ano do Ensino Fundamental - Anos Finais da rede pública estadual paulista, utilizando uma questão do Banco de Questões da OBMEP, com 21 alunos, de 13 a 14 anos, procurando nos aproximar das indicações de Polya (2006), Dante (1991) e Baldin et al. (2012), quanto à Resolução de Problemas. As análises nos indicam que ao optar por desenvolver conteúdos com situações-problema, sendo esses desafiadores, utilizando problemas auxiliares e materiais manipulativos, os alunos mostraram-se participativos e interessados, facilitando sua aprendizagem e encorajando-os a ser curiosos, assumindo um papel ativo na aprendizagem. / The question of this research is to investigate the Problem Solving applied to the OBMEP situation-problem in classroom. The aim is to awaken in students a taste for Mathematics, collaborating for the teaching-learning, the ability to think critically and improve your decisionmaking skills as a citizen. We found support for our objective in Polya (2006), Dante (1991), Onuchic e Allevato (2004), Mendes (2009), Pozo et al. (1998), Baldin et al. (2012) and official documents (BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Fundamental (1997), BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Fundamental (1998), BRASIL. Secretaria de Educação Média e Tecnológica (1999) e SÃO PAULO (Estado). Secretaria da Educação (2011)). We present the Problem Solving e as etapas described by George Polya in How to Solve It (1945). Our research is a action research studies combining qualitative (Lüdke e André (2001), André (2008) e Bogdan e Biklen (1994)), since we developed an activity in the 8th grade (elementary school) - Final Years public schools in the State of São Paulo. We using a question from the OBMEP Bank of Questions, with 21 Students, aged from 13 to 14 years old, trying to get closer to the Problem Solving presented in Polya (2006), Dante (1991) e Baldin et al. (2012). The analisys provide convincing evidence that develop learning contents using a combination of manipulative materials and auxiliary problems can provide an extremely useful addition to Mathematics teaching-learning. In addition, based on the analisys, we also noted a increasing students participation and interest, then, facilitating learning and encourage then to be curious, seek new answers and take an active role in learning.