Sequencing problem solving and worked examples: effects on performance, cognitive load, and judgments of learning

IF 3.3 3区教育学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

International Journal of Educational Research Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-09 DOI:10.1016/j.ijer.2026.103039

Ines Zeitlhofer, Joerg Zumbach

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of four instructional sequences—Problem Solving Only (PS), Problem Solving–Worked Examples (PS-WE), Worked Examples–Problem Solving (WE-PS), and Worked Examples Only (WE)—on learning performance, cognitive load, mental effort, and judgments of learning (JOLs). A total of 124 participants learned to solve mathematical equations using one of these sequences. The results showed that the sequences including problem solving led to significantly higher performance than studying worked examples alone. In the PS condition, cognitive load and mental effort decreased steadily. Mixed results were observed in sequences combining problem solving and worked examples. No significant effects were found in the WE condition. Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating problem-solving activities fosters deeper processing and more accurate metacognitive monitoring, supporting the role of active engagement in enhancing learning efficiency.

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排序问题解决和工作实例：对表现、认知负荷和学习判断的影响

本研究考察了四种教学顺序——仅解决问题（PS）、解决问题-例题（PS-WE）、例题-解决问题（WE-PS）和仅解决例题（WE）对学习成绩、认知负荷、心理努力和学习判断（JOLs）的影响。共有124名参与者学习使用这些序列中的一个来解数学方程。结果表明，包含问题求解的序列比单独学习工作示例的性能显著提高。在PS状态下，认知负荷和脑力劳动稳步下降。在将问题解决和工作实例相结合的序列中观察到混合结果。在WE条件下没有发现明显的影响。总的来说，研究结果表明，结合解决问题的活动可以促进更深层次的处理和更准确的元认知监测，支持积极参与在提高学习效率方面的作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Educational Research EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

3.10%

发文量

141

审稿时长

21 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Educational Research publishes regular papers and special issues on specific topics of interest to international audiences of educational researchers. Examples of recent Special Issues published in the journal illustrate the breadth of topics that have be included in the journal: Students Perspectives on Learning Environments, Social, Motivational and Emotional Aspects of Learning Disabilities, Epistemological Beliefs and Domain, Analyzing Mathematics Classroom Cultures and Practices, and Music Education: A site for collaborative creativity.