An investigation of exemplification moves in an instructional strategy

Abstract

The focus of the study was on the issue of sequencing and composition of moves in an instructional strategy. The study investigated the relative efficacy of example and nonexample moves and exemplification accompanied by justification and nonexemplification accompanied by justification moves in the characterization-exemplification (CE) strategy. These moves and the CE strategy are the result of the classification of moves into the two major categories of characterization moves and exemplification moves. A characterization move is a move in which characteristics or properties of objects in the referent set of the concept are disclosed. This category is further subclassified into single characteristic, sufficient condition, necessary condition, classification, identification, analysis, analogy, and differentiation moves. An exemplification move is a move in which members or nonmembers of the referent set of the concept are identified. It is further subclassified into example, nonexample, counterexample, specification, exemplification accompanied by justification, and nonexemplification accompanied by justification moves. The CE strategy is identified and explained as one or more characterization moves followed by one or more exemplification moves. It was employed to develop a total of six treatments. The characterization phase of each treatment consisted of one identification move and this identification move was the same for each treatment. The exemplification phase of each treatment was comprised of two, four, or six exemplification moves. Three treatments utilized example and nonexample moves. The remaining three treatments utilized exemplification accompanied by justification and nonexemplification accompanied by justification moves..