Feedback loop reasoning in physiological contexts

Understanding Homeostatic Regulation: The Role of Relationships and Conditions in Feedback Loop Reasoning

“…In a physiological context, they were able to determine that students only focused on one of two possible conditions (i.e., either an increase or a decrease in a measure in the human body). Building on these findings, Wellmanns and Schmiemann (2020) found that some students intuitively applied derived inverse conditions when explaining scenarios in the context of blood glucose regulation. When asked what happens when glucose is ingested with food, some students explain that high glucose consumption causes blood glucose levels to increase significantly, and that low consumption, conversely, causes blood glucose levels not to increase or to even decrease.…”

“…However, the dimensions differ with the overarching questions’ directions (cf. Wellmanns and Schmiemann, 2020 ). Considering the relationship between the hormone calcitonin and the blood calcium level, an SB question could be “What consequences does an increased calcitonin level have on blood calcium levels?,” whereas an RM question could be “What measures can be taken to lower blood calcium levels?” Essentially, both questions concern the same context, but are different types.…”

“…To examine students’ reasoning, we used 30 items with three different multiple-choice formats. All items were developed by science educators based on findings from a preliminary think-aloud study in the context of blood glucose regulation ( Wellmanns and Schmiemann, 2020 ). All items are provided in the Supplemental Material.…”

“…For example, students attribute changes in blood glucose levels to changes in food intake, but not to the effect of the regulating hormones, insulin and glucagon ( Gilissen et al. , 2020 ; Wellmanns and Schmiemann, 2020 ). These previous findings contribute to the assumption that it is difficult to identify and apply indirect relationships.…”

“…Feedback loop reasoning is the ability to recognize, analyze, and model the structures, mechanisms, and functions of systems that are characterized by feedback. Consequently, this ability is seen as part of systems thinking ( Wellmanns and Schmiemann, 2020 ). Feedback loops are mechanisms in which the effects of an emerging change in system states in turn affect the actual states ( Sterman, 2000 ; Camazine et al.…”