Shufeng Ma , Richard C. Anderson , Tzu-Jung Lin , Joshua A. Morris , Jingjing Sun
{"title":"Microdynamics of discussions that support the growth of causal reasoning","authors":"Shufeng Ma , Richard C. Anderson , Tzu-Jung Lin , Joshua A. Morris , Jingjing Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.cedpsych.2025.102416","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to understand the construction of multilink causal reasoning chains during collaborative discussions in elementary school classrooms. The construction of reasoning chains was investigated in 24 collaborative discussions involving 160 underserved fifth-grade children. The effects of moment-by-moment situational influences on seven causal chain models were tracked in the discussions. A temporal analysis of chain production indicated that the construction of causal chains accelerated over the course of the discussions. The turn-by-turn analysis of chain construction revealed that once a causal chain was initiated, it was likely to continue for at least three speaking turns. Agreement among group members and support from leaders and socially centered students extended the chain of reasoning. However, refutation and disagreement stopped the chain because the group had to resolve disputed ideas in order to develop a shared understanding. Students’ redirection of the topic served as a resetting mechanism for the chaining process. Once the topic was reset by a student, it was more likely for the current speaker to start a causal chain. Overall, the microgenetic analysis of the moment-by-moment exchanges within groups of children provides a more complete and precise picture of the process from which an important new intellectual competency emerges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10635,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Educational Psychology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102416"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Contemporary Educational Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X25000815","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EDUCATIONAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study aims to understand the construction of multilink causal reasoning chains during collaborative discussions in elementary school classrooms. The construction of reasoning chains was investigated in 24 collaborative discussions involving 160 underserved fifth-grade children. The effects of moment-by-moment situational influences on seven causal chain models were tracked in the discussions. A temporal analysis of chain production indicated that the construction of causal chains accelerated over the course of the discussions. The turn-by-turn analysis of chain construction revealed that once a causal chain was initiated, it was likely to continue for at least three speaking turns. Agreement among group members and support from leaders and socially centered students extended the chain of reasoning. However, refutation and disagreement stopped the chain because the group had to resolve disputed ideas in order to develop a shared understanding. Students’ redirection of the topic served as a resetting mechanism for the chaining process. Once the topic was reset by a student, it was more likely for the current speaker to start a causal chain. Overall, the microgenetic analysis of the moment-by-moment exchanges within groups of children provides a more complete and precise picture of the process from which an important new intellectual competency emerges.
期刊介绍:
Contemporary Educational Psychology is a scholarly journal that publishes empirical research from various parts of the world. The research aims to substantially advance, extend, or re-envision the ongoing discourse in educational psychology research and practice. To be considered for publication, manuscripts must be well-grounded in a comprehensive theoretical and empirical framework. This framework should raise critical and timely questions that educational psychology currently faces. Additionally, the questions asked should be closely related to the chosen methodological approach, and the authors should provide actionable implications for education research and practice. The journal seeks to publish manuscripts that offer cutting-edge theoretical and methodological perspectives on critical and timely education questions.
The journal is abstracted and indexed in various databases, including Contents Pages in Education, Australian Educational Index, Current Contents, EBSCOhost, Education Index, ERA, PsycINFO, Sociology of Education Abstracts, PubMed/Medline, BIOSIS Previews, and others.