Effects of Agent-Based Modeling on Comprehension of the Macro and Micro Levels in the Natural World

Session Number

I01

Advisor(s)

Alice Bennett, Argonne National Laboratory
Meridith Bruozas, Argonne National Laboratory
Emily Cantu, Argonne National Laboratory
John Domyancich, Argonne National Laboratory

Location

A-117

Start Date

28-4-2016 2:00 PM

End Date

28-4-2016 2:25 PM

Abstract

Micro and macro relationships are found at every ecological, biological, and social level. Understanding these relationships is imperative not only in science, affecting how hypotheses and solutions are made, but also in everyday life. This investigation determined if using Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), a computer modeling style that focuses on the individual, affected comprehension of the macro and micro levels. By building two separate curriculums modeling the spread of infectious diseases, one including ABM and one without, 58 students were tested on their knowledge of the macro and micro levels both before and after the curriculum was implemented using surveys. The results from this testing showed that both curriculums significantly increased the comprehension of the macro and micro levels for the control (p=2.99E-9) and the experimental (p=1.11E-10) groups. However, comparing all the data groups, consisting of pre/post surveys in the experimental and control groups, using a Tukey test, determined that the difference between the means of the scores was nonsignificant. Overall, the addition of ABM neither hinders nor assists in the comprehension of macro and micro levels. In addition, the percent of students with misconceptions of the macro level decreased post experiment by 64.4%.


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Apr 28th, 2:00 PM Apr 28th, 2:25 PM

Effects of Agent-Based Modeling on Comprehension of the Macro and Micro Levels in the Natural World

A-117

Micro and macro relationships are found at every ecological, biological, and social level. Understanding these relationships is imperative not only in science, affecting how hypotheses and solutions are made, but also in everyday life. This investigation determined if using Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), a computer modeling style that focuses on the individual, affected comprehension of the macro and micro levels. By building two separate curriculums modeling the spread of infectious diseases, one including ABM and one without, 58 students were tested on their knowledge of the macro and micro levels both before and after the curriculum was implemented using surveys. The results from this testing showed that both curriculums significantly increased the comprehension of the macro and micro levels for the control (p=2.99E-9) and the experimental (p=1.11E-10) groups. However, comparing all the data groups, consisting of pre/post surveys in the experimental and control groups, using a Tukey test, determined that the difference between the means of the scores was nonsignificant. Overall, the addition of ABM neither hinders nor assists in the comprehension of macro and micro levels. In addition, the percent of students with misconceptions of the macro level decreased post experiment by 64.4%.