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Table 1 Item features used by experts and novices to classify evolutionary problems

From: What Do Experts and Novices “See” in Evolutionary Problems?

Categorization feature

Feature level

Expert feature frequency (%)

Expert using feature (%)

Novice feature frequency (%)

Novices using feature (%)

Structure of evolutionary comparison (ancestor–descendant vs. intraspecific, etc.)

Expert b

22.2

80

8.0

40

Types and components of selection (directional, disruptive, stabilizing)

Expert b

19.4

70

5.6

28

Evolution vs. function/physiology

Expert b

16.7

60

9.6

48

Environment, weather, seasons, climate, place where organism live vs. other factors

Novicea

8.3

30

14.4

72

Sensory features vs. non-sensory features

Novicea

5.6

20

2.4

12

Artificial vs. natural selection

Expert b

5.6

20

1.6

8

Immunity or resistance vs. non-resistance

Novicea

2.8

10

9.6

48

Various taxonomic groupings (single vs. multicellular

Novicea

2.8

10

4.0

20

Predator-prey vs. other factors

Novicea

2.8

10

3.2

16

Niche vs. other factors

Novicea

2.8

10

1.6

8

Biotic vs. abiotic selective factors

Expert b

2.8

10

0.8

4

Experimental/hypothesis driven

Expert

2.8

10

0.0

0

Microevolution vs. macroevolution

Expert

2.8

10

0.0

0

Observable change vs. non-observable change

Novicea

2.8

10

0.0

0

Human involvement vs. non-human involvement

Novice

0.0

0

9.6

48

Body form, features, traits vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

6.4

32

Adapting to environment vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

4.8

24

Plant vs. animals (or other groups)

Novice

0.0

0

4.8

24

Pressure vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

4.8

24

Needs vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

3.2

16

Feeding or food-related vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

1.6

8

Flying vs. non-flying

Novice

0.0

0

1.6

8

Stronger survive vs. other factors

Novice

0.0

0

1.6

8

Behavioral traits vs. physical traits

Novice

0.0

0

0.8

4

Total

 

100.0

 

100.0

 
  1. % = percentage. See the “Methods” and “Terminology” sections for details
  2. Italics expert categorization
  3. aNovice categorization but used by some experts
  4. bExpert categorization but used by some experts