Examining undergraduates' text-based evidence identification, evaluation, and use

List, A (通讯作者),Penn State Univ, Dept Educ Psychol Counseling & Special Educ, 227 Cedar Bldg, State Coll, PA 16827 USA.
2022-5
This study examines three core processes in undergraduates' reasoning about four different evidence types (i.e., anecdotal, observational, correlational, and causal). In particular, we examine undergraduates' processes of evidence identification, evaluation, and selection of evidence to include in writing and how these manifest across different evidence types. Undergraduates' justifications for their evidence evaluations and selections were also examined. Results showed that students were successfully able to differentiate anecdotal evidence from other types of quantitative evidence and rated anecdotal evidence as least convincing. At the same time, we found that undergraduates were not able to differentiate among the other three types of evidence (i.e., descriptive/observational, correlational, causal) effectively. Moreover, a variety of criteria were identified in undergraduates' justifications for evidence evaluation and selection. Undergraduates commonly evaluated evidence based on its essential features as well as the methods used for its collection, although justifications differed across evidence types. Undergraduates also commonly considered its essential features when selecting evidence to include in writing. At the same time, undergraduates frequently mismatched the type of evidence provided (e.g., correlational) and its essential characteristics (e.g., describing it as causal). Future directions and instructional implications are discussed.
READING AND WRITING
卷号:35|期号:5|页码:1059-1089
ISSN:0922-4777|收录类别:SSCI
语种
英语
来源机构
Pennsylvania Commonwealth System of Higher Education (PCSHE); Pennsylvania State University
被引频次(WOS)
1
被引频次(其他)
1
180天使用计数
0
2013以来使用计数
2
EISSN
1573-0905
出版年
2022-5
DOI
10.1007/s11145-021-10219-5
学科领域
循证教育学
关键词
Evidence Argumentation Evaluation Critical thinking Evidence-based reasoning
WOS学科分类
Education & Educational Research Psychology, Educational