Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Testing a causal model for learning in a problem-based curriculum
M M Van den Hurk1, D H Dolmans, I H Wolfhagen
1Department of Educational Development and Research, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between elements that are important for the tutorial group process and the individual learning process in a problem-based curriculum. The variables under investigation were student-generated learning issues, individual learning process, reporting in the tutorial group, and achievement.A questionnaire containing 22 items was developed. Data were collected in the first year (N = 195) of the Medical School of the Maastricht University in the Netherlands during the academic year 1997-1998. The data were analysed using a structural modelling approach. The results indicate that the model fitted the data well. The path coefficients were moderately high, particular between the explanation-oriented approach and the depth of the reporting in the tutorial group. High path coefficients were also found between the depth of the reporting and achievement. In sum, the model gives insight into how important variables are related and it is recommended that data should be collected to test the model repeatedly.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Purposive Learning
Observational Learning
Steps in the Modeling Process
Attention is the first necessary component for observational learning. It involves focusing on what the model is doing and saying. For example, if you decide to take a drawing class to enhance your skills, you need to pay close attention to the instructor's words and hand movements. The characteristics of the model significantly...
Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory
Mathematical Modeling: Problem Solving

