BUILDING ANALOGIES BETWEEN ALGEBRAIC WORD PROBLEMS IN SCIENTIFIC CONTEXTS. A STUDY WITH SECONDARY STUDENTS

When trying to solve a problem by analogical transfer, either a general solving schema can be retrieved from LTM or analogous problems may be searched as an aid for resolution. In the second case, the search for suitable analogies implies: a) codifying the relevant features of the problem to be solved (target problem); b) retrieving analogous problems by means of certain retrieval indexes. These indexes can be of a structural or surface nature (Holyoak, 1984).

An empirical study was conducted, starting with a sorting problem task to analyze how secondary students focused on to codify problems and build analogies. Both quantitative and qualitative procedures were used. We analyzed how secondary students are influenced by different variables which are typical of science problems. A higher proportion of subjects were not able to notice the appropriate analogies and differences between problems. Therefore, those students would be expected to have difficulties to build appropriate analogies when they faced a new problem to be solved by analogical transfer. Structural analogies between problems may seem easy for teachers and experts. However, they are quite difficult for secondary students.