Toulmin's model and the solving of ill-structured problems

Toulmin's (1958) model of argument was employed in the analysis of verbal protocols obtained during the solving of ill-structured problems. The participants were experts in the domain under study. For the analysis the Toulmin model was extended in order to enable description of lines of argument found in protocols as long as 10 paragraphs. Results included: 1) The analysis provided for tracing a solver's line of argument. 2) On occasion datum and backing were difficult to distinguish. 3) Warrants were essentially not stated, although substantial backing was provided. Conclusions included: That while the Toulmin model provided for description of lines of argument, it did not provide for delineation of components of the problem solving process. A second analysis assumed a "higher level" solving structure and a "lower level" argument structure that supported and provided detail to the "higher" process, thus producing an integrated problem solving specific argumentation structure depicting how reasoning is used in relation to particular task goals. Finally, at a more general level, the overall problem solving process was considered its a Toulmin-type argument structure.