A1 Journal article (refereed)
Can noncomplementarity of agency lead to successful problem solving? A case study on students’ interpersonal behaviors in mathematical problem-solving collaboration (2022)

Haataja, E. S., Chan Man Ching, E., Salonen, V., & Clarke, D. J. (2022). Can noncomplementarity of agency lead to successful problem solving? A case study on students’ interpersonal behaviors in mathematical problem-solving collaboration. Learning and Instruction, 82, Article 101657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2022.101657

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Haataja, Eeva S.H.; Chan Man Ching, Esther; Salonen, Visajaani; Clarke, David J.

Journal or series: Learning and Instruction

ISSN: 0959-4752

eISSN: 1873-3263

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 82

Article number: 101657

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2022.101657

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82661

Abstract

In student collaboration, purposeful peer interaction crucial for success on the task. Such collaboration requires adequate and purposeful student agency. Theoretically, the between-individual complementarity of agency behaviors enhances purposeful interaction. However, the level of agency of group members can disrupt the collaborative interactions. We conducted a case study of collaborative mathematical problem solving, where one student's behaviors of noncomplementary agency characterized the group interaction. We examined the video recording of the group by continuous quantitative coding of students' agency behaviors and segmented the interaction process into four phases. We analyzed qualitatively these phases based on the verbal transcript. We found that the target student's agency grew in relation to the other students despite her lack of mathematical competence. The findings provide us with a new perspective to understand the role of the situational individual agency in collaborative learning that underlines the tolerance of noncomplementarity of agency in student collaboration.

Keywords: learning; cooperative learning; problem solving; mathematics; groups; group work; interaction; ability to cooperate; functionality; human agency; peer learning

Free keywords: agency; continuous coding; interpersonal theory; collaborative learning; mathematics education

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 3