The primary goal of this research project is to examine individual differences in student performance on Advanced Placement (AP) science courses and, specifically, to identify the cognitive factors that constrain learning and performance.  This research project takes a multi-pronged approach that first identifies domain-general and domain-specific tasks that are predictive of high-level AP performance, then assesses the strategies employed and the nature of errors made by participants when solving problems in/correctly, and finally attempts to relate learning, practice and metacognitive strategies to attained performance level.  This approach works backwards in a scientific manner from objectively measured superior performance to uncover the process by which that superiority was achieved.  In brief, our aim is to use an evidence-based approach to examining the critical thinking skills of high- and low-performing students, and contrast the differences between these groups to determine how best to improve learning, performance, and instructional design.

 The following document provides more information about this study and was developed for discussion at the International Advisory Board meeting of FCRSTEM in February, 2008.  The document c an be downloaded in Word and PDF forms:

Expert_Performance.doc

PROJECT TEAM

Paul Ward, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, and Learning Systems Institute
Florida State University

Center for Expert Performance Research
Applied Cognition & Expertise (ACE) Laboratory
Psychology Bldg., A414
1107 West Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301
(850) 645-7424

David W. Eccles, Ph.D., Co-principal Investigator
Assistant Professor and Lead Research Scientist, Center for Expert Performance Research, Learning Systems Institute, and Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, College of Education, Florida State University

Learning Systems Institute
C-4600 University Center
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 644-4952

Steven M. Lemmey, Project Coordinator
Graduate Research Assistant, FCRSTEM, Learning Systems Institute, Florida State University

Learning Systems Institute
2010 Levy Ave., Suite 254
Tallahassee, FL 32310
 

Joel Suss
Graduate Research Assistant, FCRSTEM, Learning Systems Institute, Florida State University

Center for Expert Performance Research
Applied Cognition & Expertise (ACE) Laboratory
Psychology Bldg., A414
1107 West Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301

 
Travis Mackoy
Research Assistant, FCRSTEM, Learning Systems Institute

Learning Systems Institute
2010 Levy Ave., Suite 254
Tallahassee, FL 32310