Experts learning : problem solving in a simulated environment

The purpose of this study was to show that, by critically reflecting on one's own knowledge base and the knowledge base of another in a simulated environment, an expert can learn new ways for solving problems in his domain of expertise. The simulated environment used for this study consisted of both an expert system and hypertext program. The method employed in this research was qualitative and was largely dependent on the phenomenological understanding of two subjects' experiences in solving problems. An interview and analysis method known as the Action-Reason Thematic Technique (ARTT) was central to the research and was used to acquire and analyze interview transcripts of the subjects. By an examination of three types of rules that were identified from the subjects' acquired knowledge bases, it was determined that the subjects did, in fact, add to, delete from, or otherwise modify their knowledge bases indicating that learning took place.