Evidence exists that children’s understanding can be facilitated through collaborative group work with peers, but little is known about the underlying processes. When processes are discussed, they are typically assumed to involve the assimilation of superior ideas that are constructed jointly. However, the assimilation of joint constructions cannot provide a complete account, and recent work suggests that unresolved contradiction during group interaction may contribute. Research is reported that examines the balance between unresolved contradiction and joint construction, via analyses of collaborative group work where 8- to 12-year-old children explored motion down an incline, rates of cooling, and floating in water. Results are consistent with processes stimulated by unresolved contradiction, but not with the assimilation of joint constructions.

Keywords:
Group work, Joint construction, Unresolved contradiction
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© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
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