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Question level and cognitive processing: Psycholinguistic dimensions of questions and answers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

A. Mirjami Koivukari*
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki
*
A. Mirjami Koivukari, Institute of Development Studies, University of Helsinki, Annankatu 42D, 00100 Helsinki 10, Finland

Abstract

Previous research provides evidence about a relationship between the quality of questions and the depth of processing of an input. If questions about a subject matter are asked in a certain way, students are likely to process it in depth. In this article, inputs, question levels, and depths of processing are described. Three categories of coding were defined through observation of secondary classrooms in Zaire: (a) reproducing words (rote), (b) reproducing content (comprehension 1), (c) generating new content (comprehension 2). After teacher training emphasizing student comprehension, statistically significant shifts from Category 1 behavior to Category 2 and 3 behavior were observed in the experimental classes. It is suggested that surface or deep processing can be induced by manipulating certain dimensions of inputs and questions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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