Direct process

A direct process is one which has a causal agent and proceeds sequentially. Various aspects of a direct process are directly caused by interactions among or with other aspects of the process.

Cell division, which proceeds through three distinct phases, is an example of a direct scientific process. Each process has a definite sequence; events cannot occur until others are completed.

For more information, see: Slotta, J. D. & Chi, M.T.H. (In press). The impact of ontology training on conceptual change: Helping students understand the challenging topics in science. Cognition and Instruction.
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Chi, M. T. H. (In press). Three types of conceptual change: Belief revision, mental model transformation, and categorical shift. In S. Vosniadou (Ed.), Handbook of research on conceptual change. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.