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Misleading intuition in algorithmic problem solving

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David GinatAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '01: Proceedings of the thirty-second SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education

Pages 21 - 25

https://doi.org/10.1145/364447.364530

Published: 01 February 2001 Publication History

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Abstract

This paper presents a study of misleading intuition in the domain of algorithmic problem solving. I noticed incorrect intuitive solutions to challenging algorithmic problems and interviewed students on their solutions. The students arrived at an erroneous conviction rather rapidly and demonstrated overconfidence and reinforcement of their incorrect ideas when presented with new evidence. I present two colorful and unfamiliar algorithmic challenges posed to the students, describe and discuss my experience, and offer some suggestions for reducing the effect of misleading intuition.

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Cormen, H. T., Leiserson, C. E., and Rivest, R. L., Introduction to Algorithms, MIT Press, Massachusetts 1991.

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Fischbein, E., Intuition in Science and Mathematics, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland 1987.

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Manber, U., Introduction to Algorithms - A Creative Approach, Addison-Wesley Pub, 1989.

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Schoenfeld, A., Learning to think mathematically: problem solving, metacognition, and sense making in mathematics, Handbook of Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning, pp 334-370, Macmillan, 1992.

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Cited By

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de Miguel JVelázquez-Iturbide J(2024)What Is an Algorithm?Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Sixth Edition10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch072(1-17)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch072
Panazan OGheorghe CCalefariu G(2021)The methodology of economic recovery of commercial companies in crisis conditionsIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering10.1088/1757-899X/1009/1/0120441009(012044)Online publication date: 16-Jan-2021
https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1009/1/012044
Falkner KFalkner NCamp TTymann PDougherty JNagel K(2013)Designing and supporting collaborative learning activitiesProceeding of the 44th ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/2445196.2445354(537-538)Online publication date: 6-Mar-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2445196.2445354
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Misleading intuition in algorithmic problem solving

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Misleading intuition in algorithmic problem solving

This paper presents a study of misleading intuition in the domain of algorithmic problem solving. I noticed incorrect intuitive solutions to challenging algorithmic problems and interviewed students on their solutions. The students arrived at an ...
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Published In

SIGCSE '01: Proceedings of the thirty-second SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education

February 2001

456 pages

ISBN:1581133294

DOI:10.1145/364447

Chairmen:
Henry Walker
Grinnell College
,
Renée McCauley
College of Charleston
,
Judith Gersting
Univ. of Hawaii at Hilo
,
Ingrid Russell
Univ. of Hartford

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 33, Issue 1
March 2001
432 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/366413
Editor:
John Impagliazzo
103 Hofstra Univ., Hempstead, NY
Issue’s Table of Contents

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

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Published: 01 February 2001

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SIGCSE01: 32nd SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

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SIGCSE '01 Paper Acceptance Rate 78 of 225 submissions, 35%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 1,787 of 5,146 submissions, 35%

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de Miguel JVelázquez-Iturbide J(2024)What Is an Algorithm?Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Sixth Edition10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch072(1-17)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024
https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-7366-5.ch072
Panazan OGheorghe CCalefariu G(2021)The methodology of economic recovery of commercial companies in crisis conditionsIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering10.1088/1757-899X/1009/1/0120441009(012044)Online publication date: 16-Jan-2021
https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1009/1/012044
Falkner KFalkner NCamp TTymann PDougherty JNagel K(2013)Designing and supporting collaborative learning activitiesProceeding of the 44th ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/2445196.2445354(537-538)Online publication date: 6-Mar-2013
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2445196.2445354
Muller OHaberman B(2010)A non-linear approach to solving linear algorithmic problems2010 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE.2010.5673643(F1D-1-F1D-6)Online publication date: Oct-2010
https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2010.5673643
Falkner KMunro D(2009)Easing the transitionProceedings of the Eleventh Australasian Conference on Computing Education - Volume 9510.5555/1862712.1862725(65-74)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/1862712.1862725
Falkner KPalmer E(2009)Developing authentic problem solving skills in introductory computing classesACM SIGCSE Bulletin10.1145/1539024.150887141:1(4-8)Online publication date: 4-Mar-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1539024.1508871
Falkner KPalmer EFitzgerald SGuzdial MLewandowski GWolfman S(2009)Developing authentic problem solving skills in introductory computing classesProceedings of the 40th ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/1508865.1508871(4-8)Online publication date: 4-Mar-2009
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1508865.1508871
Ginat D(2008)Learning from wrong and creative algorithm designACM SIGCSE Bulletin10.1145/1352322.135214840:1(26-30)Online publication date: 12-Mar-2008
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1352322.1352148
Ginat DDougherty JRodger SFitzgerald SGuzdial M(2008)Learning from wrong and creative algorithm designProceedings of the 39th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/1352135.1352148(26-30)Online publication date: 12-Mar-2008
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1352135.1352148
Sutinen ETarhio J(2001)Teaching to identify problems in a creative way31st Annual Frontiers in Education Conference. Impact on Engineering and Science Education. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.01CH37193)10.1109/FIE.2001.963846(TID-8-TID-13)Online publication date: 2001
https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2001.963846
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