The Prototype Elicitation Effect In Scientific Problem Finding

Finding and raising problems was the beginning of innovation. The formulation of a problem was often more essential than its solution. To raise new problems means real advance in science. The studies of problem finding mainly included the thinking process of problem finding, its relationship with problem solving, its relationship with creativity and the influencing factors. The objective of this investigation was to explore the cognitive mechanism of the prototype elicitation effect in scientific problem finding and the neural mechanism of the prototype elicitation effect in scientific problem finding, in order to provide theoretical foundation for promoting the studies of problem finding and innovative education.In experiment 1, we investigated the cognitive mechanism of the prototype elicitation effect in scientific problem finding. Forty problem situations were selected from the Scientific Inventional Experimental Problems of Library, and they were divided into with prototypical knowledge and without prototypical knowledge. Forty undergraduates were instructed to generate science related problems in both conditions with responses scored by 5 degrees. The results indicated that:firstly, in problem situation with related prototype, subjects connected situation information, heuristic information and internal information, so the quality of problem was significantly better than that of problem situation without related prototype. Secondly, the interaction of high-low score subjects and with-without related prototype was significant. This may show that the ability of finding problem independently of high score subjects was better, but low score subjects needed more prototype elicitation. This suggested that the prototype elicitation could raise the performance of finding problem of low score subjects effectively. Thirdly, in problem situation with related prototype, the reaction time was more faster. This showed that heuristic information promoted thinking process, reduced processing load and improved processing efficiency.In experiment 2, using fMRI methodology, we investigated the neural mechanism of the prototype elicitation effect in scientific problem finding. Seventy-six problem situations were selected from the Scientific Inventional Experimental Problems of Library, and they were divided into with prototypical knowledge and without prototypical knowledge. Eighteen undergraduates were instructed to generate science related problems in both conditions with responses scored by 3 degrees. The results indicated that:firstly, in problem situation with related prototype, the quality of problem was significantly better than that of problem situation without related prototype. Secondly, compared with finding general problems without related prototype, finding scientific problems with related prototype activated some brain regions including Precuneus and Angular Gyrus. Thirdly, finding scientific problems with related prototype and finding general problems without related prototype activated several same brain regions including left Precentral Gyrus, left Medial Frontal Gyrus, left Fusiform Gyrus, left Lentiform Nucleus and right Cerebellum.The main conclusions of the present study were as follows:1) Learning related prototype in the process of problem finding promoted creative problem finding, improved the quality of problem finding, and showed the significant prototype elicitation effect.2) The interaction of high-low score subjects and with-without related prototype was significant. This may show that the ability of finding problem independently of high score subjects was better, but low score subjects needed more prototype elicitation. This suggested that the prototype elicitation could raise the performance of finding problem of low score subjects effectively.3) Compared with finding general problems without related prototype, finding scientific problems with related prototype activated some brain regions including Precuneus and Angular Gyrus.4) Finding scientific problems with related prototype and finding general problems without related prototype activated several same brain regions including left Precentral Gyrus, left Medial Frontal Gyrus, left Fusiform Gyrus, left Lentiform Nucleus and right Cerebellum.