Problem solving skills assessment methodology: design and application in a forestry case study

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dc.contributor.advisorJaeger, Dirk
dc.contributor.advisorZundel, Pierre
dc.contributor.authorHobbs, Melanie
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-01T16:37:41Z
dc.date.available2023-03-01T16:37:41Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.updated2020-03-16T00:00:00Z
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this project was to design a methodology to elicit and evaluate the problem solving processes of adults for complex, realistic work problems. Process tracing techniques fit the design criteria. The prototype methodology presented in this report records the information search of participants solving a hypothetical case problem. Their search through a computer database of problem details offers a trace of process. The methodology was tested using a case study approach. Thirteen forest road construction supervisors from New Brunswick, Canada, solved a stream crossing design and construction planning problem. Indices of agreement (Rimoldi, 1960; Rimoldi & Raimondo, 1998) derived from an information theory of signal processing (Shannon, 1948; Attneave, 1959) were used to evaluate the consistency of participant search tactics with those of normative groups. Environmental quality was scored using the composite programming algorithm FCP-11 (Bardossy, Bogardi & Duckstein, 1985; Jones & Barnes, 2000). FCP-11 was used to calculate the distance between participant solutions and the environmental ideal. The time and cost of the search and the construction cost of the final design comprised the efficiency analysis. The results suggested the methods are sensitive to distinct task-related schemata and heuristics employed by participants. Effects of employer policies, government guidelines, biases and habituation to home territory were noted in participant approaches to the case problem. Participant rankings for consistency, environmental quality and efficiency parameters were used to identify who should receive training. Recommendations include ways to improve the ease of use, functionality and reliability of the methodology. Toward assurance of best practices, researchers, instructors and trainees alike may use the methodology to view and compare professionals' process traces for real work problems.
dc.description.copyright© Melanie Hobbs, 2013
dc.description.noteElectronic Only.
dc.description.notePh.D. University of New Brunswick, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management, 2013.
dc.formattext/xml
dc.format.extentxv, 332 pages ; illustrations
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.identifier.oclc(OCoLC)1144932627
dc.identifier.otherThesis 9154
dc.identifier.urihttps://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/14231
dc.language.isoen_CA
dc.publisherUniversity of New Brunswick
dc.rightshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.subject.disciplineForestry and Environmental Management
dc.subject.lcshProblem solving.
dc.subject.lcshForests and forestry -- Decision making -- Case studies.
dc.subject.lcshForest roads -- Design and construction -- Case studies.
dc.titleProblem solving skills assessment methodology: design and application in a forestry case study
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineForestry and Environmental Management
thesis.degree.fullnameDoctor of Philosophy
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of New Brunswick
thesis.degree.leveldoctoral
thesis.degree.namePh.D.

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