An Exploration of Think-aloud Protocols Linked with Eye-gaze Tracking: Are they Talking about what they are Looking at

This pilot study investigated the use of juxtaposed think aloud and eye-gaze tracking to understand a possible different understanding of think aloud process of participants. Four participants completed eight multiple-choice science questions while thinking aloud and having their eye-gazes tracked. Analysis of the data revealed that participants had behaviors such as fore telling of an eye movement, pauses in the think-aloud, different duration of the think-aloud, and the interaction between the think-aloud and associated eye movements. These findings suggest that juxtaposed think aloud and eye-gaze tracking may be a useful approach to furthering our understanding of students’ problem solving behaviors.