Cognitive Processes Associated with the Perception of Randomness

摘要

In a study of novice teachers’ I investigate the conception of randomness among teachers college trainees that study probability and statistics. I gave the students questionnaires which serve to explored their conception and problem-solving approach with respect to probability problems, conception of randomness and deciding about the randomness of sequences and arrays, solving a THOG type problem, which raise the use of matching biases characteristics. I will show that the students use a set of rules to solve these different categories of problems. There is a common heuristic for all or many of these problem solving categories: the problem solver relay on heuristics anchored on the symmetry and asymmetry of sets of objects or more abstract elements to decide on questions like what is the probability of getting a certain sample in a random drawing of beads, the randomness of an array; certain sequences are measured by looking at the amount of apparent order in-order to make decisions concerning randomness and deviation from symmetry of the sample also effect the decision. This characteristic heuristic approach of problem solvers is founded on a set of simple rules relating to order, deviation from symmetry, the distribution of patches in the plane and occurrence of ordered subsequences in certain linear arrangement of sequences.