The Impact of Visualization Tendency in Phases of Problem-solving

Problem-solving ability is one of the most important learning outcomes for students to compete and accomplish in a knowledge-based society. It has been empirically proven that visualization plays a central role in problem-solving. The best performing problem-solver might have a strong visualization tendency. However, there is little research as to what factors of visualization tendency primarily related to problem-solving ability according to phases of problem-solving. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between visualization tendency and problem-solving ability, to determine which factors of visualization tendency influence problem-solving ability in each phase of problem-solving, and to examine different problem-solving ability from the perspective of the levels of visualization tendency. This study has found out that visualization tendency has a significant correlation with problem-solving ability. Especially, Generative Visualization and Spatial-Motor Visualization as sub-visualization tendency were more strongly related to each phase of problem-solving. It indicates that visualization tendency to generate and operate mental processing can be considered a major cognitive skill to improve problem-solving ability. Furthermore, students who have high visualization tendency also have significantly higher problem-solving ability than students with low visualization tendency. It shows that the levels of visualization tendency can predict variables related to students' problem-solving ability.