The Myth of Over-scripting: Can Novices be Supported Too Much?

Abstract

Despite the fact that many researchers in CSCL use the term over-scripting to interpret negative effects of scripts, the term is not clearly defined. Our contribution is to reframe the term according to concepts of internal and external scripts. We further conceptualize potential interferences between internal and external scripts in terms of cognitive processes and motivation. In an empirical study (N = 81) we varied the degree of an argumentative script (low vs. medium vs. high) and examined the effects on processes and outcomes of argumentative knowledge construction. Our results show positive effects of the medium and high degree of scripting on argumentative knowledge construction. We found negative effects of the medium and high degree of scripting on motivation, however, but low motivation did not negatively interfere with knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, our reframing of over-scripting allowed us to differentiate between under-scripting, over-scripting and, finally, malfunctional scripts.