Studying Problem Solving Through the Lens of Complex Systems Science: A Novel Methodological Framework for Analyzing Problem-Solving Processes

Viewed through the lens of complex systems science, one may conceptualize problem-solving as a complex adaptive activity. Theories of biological evolution point to an analogical equivalence between problem solving and evolutionary processes and, thus, introduce innovative methodological tools to the analysis of problem-solving processes. In this paper, we present a methodological framework for characterizing and analyzing these processes. We describe two measures that characterize genetic evolution—convergence and persistence—to characterize the problem-solving process, and instantiate them in a study of problem-solving interactions of collaborative groups in an online, synchronous environment. We conclude with a discussion of issues relating to reliability, validity, usefulness, and limitations of the proposed methodology.