Conditions for the acquisition of operating knowledge for solving technical problems

• Applicants: Dr. Carolin Hahnel; Professorin Dr. Jennifer Stemmann
• Subject Area: General and Domain-Specific Teaching and Learning
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456978965

Advances in the field of microelectronics go hand in hand with new product innovations (e.g., smart home systems), which result in changes in human-technology-interaction. Interferences in this interaction are problematic. On the one hand, interferences can be attributed to system factors, which are researched within the scope of usability studies (e.g., design of user interfaces), but on the other hand they can also arise from individual influences (e.g., lack of operating knowledge). The development of adequate operating knowledge can be challenging and is becoming more difficult due to increasing product variety, shorter product life cycles and increasing product complexity. Our research project focuses on this educational perspective. The operation of a technical device is seen as a problem solving process (technical problem solving): By interacting with a device, a person aims at transforming a current start system state into a desired target state. In doing so, barriers occur which make a transition difficult and which cannot be solved by routine actions. This research project is concerned with the conditions and forms of acquiring operating knowledge to overcome such barriers. The core of the project is to investigate the role of individual cognitive and motivational characteristics as well as system factors that may favor or hinder competent interaction with digitized technology. Using an established computer-based test for technical problem solving, which can be used to record interaction data (e.g., mouse clicks), preferences and processes in the acquisition of operating knowledge and in the purposeful control of a technical device are investigated. Everyday technical systems from the fields of home automation, household appliance and information and communication technology (e.g., heating control, dishwasher, or Internet router) are considered. The computer-based test used is further developed (e.g., extended by user manuals) and calibrated in Study 1 based on a broad adult sample. In Study 2, cognitive and motivational characteristics of individuals (i.e., intelligence, reading skills, or technical self-concept) will be assessed in addition to their performance in technical problem solving. Based on the obtained data, the questions are investigated (a) whether people prefer some form of knowledge acquisition or combine different forms (e.g., discovering a function through system exploration with reading instructions in the user manual), (b) under which conditions people use a certain method (e.g., Is a person with a low technical self-concept more likely to acquire knowledge from user manuals? ) and (c) to which extent the successful use of everyday technical devices can be attributed to individual characteristics, strategies of knowledge acquisition and aspects of acquired knowledge.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants