Re: Contexts, Chapt.9
Ellice A Forman (ellice+ who-is-at pitt.edu)
Sun, 8 Oct 1995 11:38:31 -0400 (EDT)
FYI--the pre and posttest sessions reported in Chapter 9 were conducted
with the examiner (McPhail) and one of
the partners in the pair. The "collaborative" sessions were conducted
with both partners and the same examiner. This follows the tradition of
research in this field (much of it done from a Neo-Piagetian
perspectice). Typical of this research paradigm, the examiner is not
viewed as a "collaborator" in collaborative problem-solving. Thus, the
pre and post measures reflect, in part, the view that the adolescent
being tested is solving the problems independently.
Of course, none of these assumptions seems very tenable from a mediated
activity point of view these days. Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont has been
writing (with various authors) about the untenability of this
position--for research in peer collaboration and for testing in general.
One chapter the deals with her view of testing as a socially-mediated
activity appeared in the edited volume by Resnick, Levine, & Teasley,
"Socially-shared cognition".
Ellice Forman