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Western Michigan University

Dissertations

1996

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An Account Of Expert Phylogenetic Tree Construction From The Problem-Solving Research Tradition In Science Education, Steven D. Brewer Jun 1996

An Account Of Expert Phylogenetic Tree Construction From The Problem-Solving Research Tradition In Science Education, Steven D. Brewer

Dissertations

Content knowledge, strategic knowledge, and forms of knowledge organization used in phylogenetic tree construction are described to account for expert performance. A literature review is used to situate this research with respect to studies of: (a) the teaching of evolution, (b) problem-solving expertise, (c) physics and biology problem solving, and (d) the practice of phylogenetic systematics. Rationales are provided for the development of a computer-based problem-solving environment, model problems, and research problems and methodology.

Each problem consisted of a matrix of coded and polarized phylogenetic data organized by taxa and characters. Four series of research problems were constructed that varied …