Improving Cognitive Complexity via Seminar Methodology in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper presents the main functions that university plays in society and describes the seminar methodology created at Ramon Llull University. Specifically the article focuses on and explains how seminars help to promote complex knowledge in students. An empirical study with students participating in seminars is designed to assess the improvement in students' cognitive complexity. Cognitive complexity is understood as personal construct system complexity measured through different differentiation and integration indexes. Results are that participation in a semester seminar work results in an increase in cognitive complexity, improving all differentiation indexes.