Collaborative Research: RUI: Trust but Verify: The Use of Intuition in Engineering Problem Solving

合作研究：RUI：信任但验证：直觉在工程问题解决中的运用

• 批准号: 2325525
• 负责人: Kaela Martin
• 金额: $ 6.13万
• 依托单位: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-10-01 至 2026-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2325525&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; RUI; Trust; but

The project, “Collaborative Research: RUI: Trust but Verify: The Use of Intuition in Engineering Problem Solving” is a three-year study about engineering intuition conducted at Bucknell University, Arizona State University, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The goal of this project is to examine the application of intuition by engineering practitioners and generate knowledge that promotes the professional formation of engineers and development of a stronger engineering workforce. Engineering intuition is a problem-solving skill developed through experience that engineering practitioners subconsciously use when under pressure from constraints (e.g., lack of time). Engineering practitioners regularly use and develop intuition on-the-job; however, the use of intuition is often discouraged in undergraduate education. Research questions in this study focus on the application of intuition in engineering problem solving, solving “ill” versus “well” structured engineering problems, and prior engineering experience levels when engineers solve structured problems. The study will use a variety of methods and techniques (such as Simulation Interviews). New engineering practitioners (senior undergraduates and those with less than one year of experience) and mid-career practitioners (6-10 years of experience) will participate. The knowledge generated from this study will provide a foundation for bridging the disconnect between classroom and real-world engineering practices, designing educational interventions that promote intuition development, and understanding how early intuition development can help level the playing field for all students regardless of individual background, including past engineering experiences.The project, “Collaborative Research: RUI: Trust but Verify: The Use of Intuition in Engineering Problem Solving” is a three-year study about engineering intuition conducted at Bucknell University, Arizona State University, and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The goal of this project is to examine the application of intuition by engineering practitioners and generate knowledge that promotes the professional formation of engineers and development of a stronger engineering workforce. Engineering intuition is a problem-solving skill developed through experience that engineering practitioners subconsciously use when under pressure from constraints (e.g., lack of time). Expertise in a specific area is a prerequisite of intuition and is a defining characteristic of the expert. Engineering practitioners regularly use and develop intuition on-the-job; however, the use of intuition is often discouraged in undergraduate education. The disconnect between intuition’s use in engineering practice and in engineering education, coupled with limited knowledge of the relationship between intuition, expertise, and experience, presents an important gap in our existing understanding of engineering problem solving and future workforce preparation. A qualitative approach will be employed to investigate four research questions: RQ1: How does the application of intuition manifest in engineering problem solving? RQ2: How does the application of intuition vary when approaching “ill” versus “well” structured engineering problems? RQ3: How does the domain of practitioner expertise influence the application of intuition when approaching “ill” versus “well” structured engineering problems? RQ4: How does prior engineering experience influence the application of intuition when approaching “ill” versus “well” structured engineering problems? Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) will elicit expert knowledge from a sample of new engineering practitioners (senior undergraduates and those with less than one year of experience) and mid-career practitioners (6-10 years of experience). Per best practices, CTA methods (Simulation Interviews, Critical Decision Method, and Knowledge Audit Method) will be used to support robust data collection. The knowledge generated from this study will provide a foundation for bridging the disconnect between classroom and real-world engineering practices, designing educational interventions that promote intuition development, and understanding how early intuition development can help level the playing field for all students regardless of individual background, including past engineering experiences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目“合作研究：RUI：信任但验证：在工程问题解决问题中使用直觉”是一项有关在亚利桑那州立大学巴克内尔大学和恩伯里·里德尔航空大学进行的三年研究。该项目的目的是检查工程从业人员对直觉的应用，并产生知识，以促进工程师的专业形成和发展更强大的工程劳动力。工程直觉是一种通过经验而发展的解决问题的技能，该经验在受到约束的压力下（例如，缺乏时间）时会下意识地使用。工程从业人员定期使用和开发直觉在工作中；但是，在本科教育中通常不建议使用直觉。本研究中的研究问题集中于直觉在工程问题解决，解决“疾病”与“井”结构化工程问题以及工程师解决结构化问题时的先验工程经验水平。该研究将使用多种方法和技术（例如仿真访谈）。新的工程从业人员（高级本科生和经验不到一年的人）和职业中学从业人员（6 - 10年的经验）将参加。这项研究产生的知识将为桥接教室和现实世界工程实践之间的脱节，设计促进直觉发展的教育干预措施，并了解早期直觉发展如何帮助所有学生的竞争环境，无论其背景如何在亚利桑那州立大学巴克内尔大学和恩伯里·里德尔航空大学进行。该项目的目的是检查工程从业人员对直觉的应用，并产生知识，以促进工程师的专业形成和发展更强大的工程劳动力。工程直觉是一种通过经验而发展的解决问题的技能，该经验在受到约束的压力下（例如，缺乏时间）时会下意识地使用。特定领域的专业知识是直觉的先决条件，并且是专家的定义特征。工程实践者定期使用和开发直觉在工作中；但是，在本科教育中通常不建议使用直觉。直觉在工程实践和工程教育中的使用之间的脱节，再加上对直觉，专家和经验之间关系的有限了解，在我们对工程问题解决问题和未来的劳动力准备方面的现有理解中给出了一个重要差距。将采用定性方法来研究四个研究问题：RQ1：直觉的应用如何在工程问题解决中表现出来？ RQ2：接近“疾病”与“井”结构化工程问题时，直觉的应用有何不同？ RQ3：实践者专业知识的领域在接近“疾病”与“井”结构化工程问题时如何影响直觉的应用？ RQ4：在接近“疾病”与“井”结构化工程问题时，先前的工程经验如何影响直觉的应用？认知任务分析（CTA）将从新的工程实践者（高级本科生和经验不到一年的经验）和职业生涯中级实践者（6 - 10年的经验）中获取专家知识。通过最佳实践，将使用CTA方法（模拟访谈，关键决策方法和知识审核方法）来支持强大的数据收集。这项研究产生的知识将为弥合课堂和现实世界工程实践之间的脱节，设计促进直觉发展的教育干预措施，并了解早期直觉发展如何帮助所有学生的竞争环境，无论其背景如何 标准。