HKIER

Abstract

The present study describes how a measure of problem difficulty, called the problem complexity, can be developed. Four problem complexity factors for a topic in mathematics were identified, namely, the perceived number of difficult steps, the number of steps required to finish the problem, and number of operations in the problem expression and students' degree of familiarity with the question. These factors are called the complexity factors and can be used to calculate the problem complexity by using a multiple regression equation. This measure of problem difficulty has the advantage that it can be obtained when a problem is created and is thus suitable for use in computer-assisted instructional systems.

摘要

N.A.