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Insight Problem Solving: A Critical Examination of the Possibility of Formal Theory

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dc.creator Batchelder, William H.
dc.creator Alexander, Gregory E.
dc.date 2012-10-17T19:46:46Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-24T14:18:19Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-24T14:18:19Z
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jps/vol5/iss1/6
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/25661
dc.description This paper provides a critical examination of the current state and future possibility of formal cognitive theory for insight problem solving and its associated “aha!” experience. Insight problems are contrasted with move problems, which have been formally defined and studied extensively by cognitive psychologists since the pioneering work of Alan Newell and Herbert Simon. To facilitate our discussion, a number of classical brainteasers are presented along with their solutions and some conclusions derived from observing the behavior of many students trying to solve them. Some of these problems are interesting in their own right, and many of them have not been discussed before in the psychological literature. The main purpose of presenting the brainteasers is to assist in discussing the status of formal cognitive theory for insight problem solving, which is argued to be considerably weaker than that found in other areas of higher cognition such as human memory, decision-making, categorization, and perception. We discuss theoretical barriers that have plagued the development of successful formal theory for insight problem solving. A few suggestions are made that might serve to advance the field.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.publisher Purdue University
dc.source The Journal of Problem Solving
dc.subject Insight problems
dc.subject move problems
dc.subject modularity
dc.subject problem representation
dc.title Insight Problem Solving: A Critical Examination of the Possibility of Formal Theory
dc.type Article


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