Title: The Use of Data-mining Techniques in the Building and Bridging
of Theoretical Frameworks

Abstract:

Kulikowich will discuss how theories should drive methodological
decisions. Yet, many theories are not only complex, but also their
tenets, upon first glance, appear to stand in opposition to those of
other theories. A very good example of this emerged from the
mind-centered versus situation-centered debates about learning between
information-processing theorists and situativity theorists in the
1990s. Information-processing theorists held to their computer-based
metaphors to describe memory. Comparatively, many situativity
theorists asserted the computer-metaphor for memory was dated and that
there was no static storage of memorized information in the mind of
the knower. However, Kulikowich will argue, with further examination,
many theories are complementary in that they can focus on different
units of analysis with different temporal and contextual
considerations about learning and related constructs such as problem
solving and reading comprehension. But what exactly is meant by
further examination? This presentation will explore how data-mining
methodologies contribute to refining the statement of hypotheses for
even the most-established theoretical frameworks and how such
techniques may actually contribute to building bridges among
theoretical frameworks that appear to operate on different spatial and
temporal scales.