Self-select groups increase stability but reduce collaboration in high school physics

Diego Ramirez, Eugenio J. Guzmán-Lavín, Javier Pulgar, Cristian Candia
June 2025
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Image credit: CRiSS-LAB

Abstract

Group configurations shape social skills and learning outcomes. This study compares random allocation with student self-selection in high school physics groups, showing that self-selected groups develop stronger friendship bonds and stability, while randomly formed groups show greater cooperation and membership change.

Type
Journal article
Publication
Physical Review Physics Education Research, 21, 010157
Learning Analytics Network Science Physics Education Cooperation
Diego Ramirez
Diego Ramirez
Ph.D. Candidate
Javier Pulgar
Javier Pulgar
Physics Department, Universidad del Bío Bío
Cristian Candia
Cristian Candia
Associate Professor and Head of CRiSS-LAB, School of Engineering and School of Government, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile.

My research interests include applied AI, computational social science, network science, collective intelligence, school coexistence, decision intelligence, and business analytics.