Dynamics and constraints in insight problem solving.

Full Abstract

This article reports 2 experiments that investigated performance on a novel insight problem, the 8-coin problem. The authors hypothesized that participants would make certain initial moves (strategic moves) that seemed to make progress according to the problem instructions but that nonetheless would guarantee failure to solve the problem. Experiment 1 manipulated the starting state of the problem and showed that overall solution rates were lower when such strategic moves were available. Experiment 2 showed that failure to capitalize on visual hints about the correct first move was also associated with the availability of strategic moves. The results are interpreted in terms of an information-processing framework previously applied to the 9-dot problem. The authors argue that in addition to the operation of inappropriate constraints, a full account of insight problem solving must incorporate a dynamic that steers solution-seeking activity toward the constraints.

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Author information

Author/s: Ormerod, Thomas C (TC); MacGregor, James N (JN); Chronicle, Edward P (EP);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, United Kingdom.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition (J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jul; vol 28 (issue 4) : pp 791-9

Dates: Created 2002/07/11; Completed 2003/02/14; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12109769, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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