This paper presents the preliminary findings of a larger study on the problem-solving rationale associated with the use of multiple contextual representations. Four engineering practitioners solved a problem associated with headloss in pipe flow while their visual attention was tracked using eye tracking technology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted following the problem-solving interview and the rationale associated with their decisions to use a particular contextual representation emerged. The results of this study show how the rationale can influence the problem-solving process of the four engineering practitioners. Engineering practitioners used various contextual representations and provided multiple rationale for their decisions. Eye tracking techniques and semi-structured interviews created a robust picture of the
problem-solving process that supplements previous problem-solving research.
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Traffic Signal Phasing Problem-Solving Rationales of Professional Engineers Developed from Eye-Tracking and Clinical Interviews
There is a lack of knowledge on the way transportation engineering practitioners engage with various Contextual Representations (CRs) to solve traffic engineering design problems. CRs such as equations, graphs, and tables could be perceived differently, even if they represent the same concept. The present study recognized left-turn treatment at signalized intersections as a prominent concept in traffic engineering practice and identified three associated CRs (a text-book equation, a graphical representation, and a stepwise flowchart) to design a phasing plan. Two data collection mechanisms were concurrently employed: 1) eye-tracking to analyze visual attention and document problem-solving approaches and 2) reflective clinical interviews to analyze ways of thinking and document problem-solving rationales. The problem-solving experiment was completed by twenty-four transportation engineering practitioners. Transportation engineering practitioners not only demonstrated preferences for different CRs, they also demonstrated different reasoning as to the selection of the same CR. Results of Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed that there was a statistically significant difference in visual attention based on CR. Additionally, in-vivo coding of participants’ interviews identified seven distinct rationales for CR selection. Findings from this study could be employed to modify transportation engineering curricula with optimized visual CRs.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1463769
- PAR ID:
- 10089052
- Publisher / Repository:
- SAGE Publications
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Volume:
- 2673
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0361-1981
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 685-696
- Size(s):
- p. 685-696
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Background A defining characteristic of expertise is the use of intuition to navigate tasks. The construct of intuition and its importance is well‐studied in other disciplines, but little is known about how it translates to engineering. Existing literature on intuition does not clearly define the construct and its relationship to problem solving, which creates a substantial gap in our understanding of intuition and its applicability to engineering.
Purpose This study's purpose is to better understand the relationship between expertise, decision‐making, and intuition from the perspective of engineering practitioners. We additionally seek to define engineering intuition from this same perspective.
Design/Methods Seventeen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with engineering practitioners with at least 6 years of experience. Sensitizing concepts tied to models of expertise development and dual process cognition were used to guide the study's design and data analysis. Iterative qualitative analysis culminating in code mapping supported the development of a definition and theory of engineering intuition.
Results This study's result is an emergent definition of engineering intuition and a complementary framework called Leveraging Intuition Toward Engineering Solutions (LITES). LITES uniquely situates intuition as part of the problem‐solving process among experienced engineering practitioners and describes how practitioners use their intuition.
Conclusions This work advances knowledge of the relationship between intuition and expertise in engineering education by providing a definition of engineering intuition and a framework describing intuition's role in engineering problem solving. This contribution furthers efforts to equip current and future engineers with the necessary skills to navigate existing and upcoming societal challenges.
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Engineering practitioners solve problems in various ways; it is plausible that they often rely on graphs, figures, formulas and other representations to reach a solution. How and why engineering practitioners use representations to solve problems can characterize certain problem-solving behaviors, which can be used to determine particular types of problem solvers. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between time spent referring to various representations and the justifications for the decisions made during the problem-solving process of engineering practitioners. A persona-based approach was used to characterize the problem-solving behavior of 16 engineering practitioners. Utilizing eye tracking and retrospective interview techniques, the problem-solving process of engineering practitioners was explored. Three unique problem-solver personas were developed that describe the behaviors of engineering practitioners; a committed problem solver, an evaluative problem, and an indecisive problem solver. The three personas suggest that there are different types of engineering practitioner problem solvers. This study contributes to engineering education research by expanding on problem-solving research to look for reasons why decisions are made during the problem-solving process. Understanding more about how the differences between problem solvers affect the way they approach a problem and engage with the material presents a more holistic view of the problem-solving process of engineering practitioners.more » « less
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