Conceptual Graph Analysis: Knowledge Acquisition for Instructional System Design

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Abstract
This paper describes the empirical validation of a knowledge acquisition methodology using conceptual graph analysis. Conceptual graphs are a representational medium used to integrate and organize knowledge obtained from documents, verbal protocols, question probes, and observation of task performance. The method was validated by presenting two groups of subjects with text and graphics on a topic in engineering dynamics. One set of materials was written by a recognized subject matter expert. The other set was developed by subjecting the expert generated text to conceptual graph analysis. The text was first translated into a conceptual graph structure, then the graph was revised via question probes and observation/induction methods. The final graph was returned to a standard text format. Students receiving the knowledge-engineered text solved significantly more problems than students receiving the original text. Conceptual graph analysis is a generalized method that can be used for a broad range of training domains, providing a highly structured means for making explicit the knowledge base to be incorporated into instructional design.

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