Think! Evidence

Introspection in Problem Solving

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dc.creator Jäkel, Frank
dc.creator Schreiber, Cornell
dc.date 2013-10-10T20:31:20Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-24T14:18:20Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-24T14:18:20Z
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jps/vol6/iss1/4
dc.identifier http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=jps
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/25674
dc.description Problem solving research has encountered an impasse. Since the seminal work of Newell und Simon (1972) researchers do not seem to have made much theoretical progress (Batchelder and Alexander, 2012; Ohlsson, 2012). In this paper we argue that one factor that is holding back the field is the widespread rejection of introspection among cognitive scientists. We review evidence that introspection improves problem solving performance, sometimes dramatically. Several studies suggest that self-observation, self-monitoring, and self-reflection play a key role in developing problem solving strategies. We argue that studying these introspective processes will require researchers to systematically ask subjects to introspect. However, we document that cognitive science textbooks dismiss introspection and as a consequence introspective methods are not used in problem solving research, even when it would be appropriate. We conclude that research on problem solving would benefit from embracing introspection rather than dismissing it.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.publisher Purdue University
dc.source The Journal of Problem Solving
dc.subject introspection
dc.subject problem solving
dc.subject metacognition
dc.subject verbal reports
dc.subject think aloud
dc.title Introspection in Problem Solving
dc.type Article


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