Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 182-192.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.02.04

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Complex Problem-solving: An Investigation into the Dynamic Coupling of Planning and Goal-directed Behaviors

TIAN Wei, GAO Qinhui, XIN Tao, ZHANG Jiahui   

  1. Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2026-03-14

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Abstract: Enhancing students’ complex problem-solving skills is a crucial focus in contemporary psychological and educational research. This study utilizes computer-simulated tests and behavioral sequence analysis to investigate the dynamic coupling relationship between planning and goal-directed behaviors in complex problem solving among 27802 fifteen-year-old students from 42 countries/economies. The findings are as follows: (1) The successful group demonstrated more goal-directed behaviors, while the unsuccessful group tended to engage in more planning and non-goal-directed behaviors; (2) Both groups exhibited significant typological differences in planning behavior sequences, reflecting the influence of individual differences in engagement motivation, cognitive load, and personality traits; (3) The successful group maintained dynamic coupling between planning and goal-directed behaviors, while the unsuccessful group showed relative inadequacy. These findings highlight the crucial role of maintaining dynamic coupling between planning and goal-directed behaviors in complex problem-solving and provide a theoretical basis for the design of educational intervention strategies.

Key words: complex problem-solving, planning, goal-directed behavior, process data, behavioral sequence analysis

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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