Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Psychological Research 1/2020

18-01-2018 | Original Article

Closing the gap: connecting sudden representational change to the subjective Aha! experience in insightful problem solving

Auteurs: Amory H. Danek, Joshua Williams, Jennifer Wiley

Gepubliceerd in: Psychological Research | Uitgave 1/2020

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Two hallmarks of insightful problem solving are thought to be suddenness in the emergence of solution due to changes in problem representation, and the subjective Aha! experience. Although a number of studies have explored the Aha! experience, few studies have attempted to measure representational change. Following the lead of Durso et al. (Psychol Sci 5(2):94–97, 1994) and Cushen and Wiley (Conscious Cognit 21(3):1166–1175, 2012), in this study, participants made importance-to-solution ratings throughout their solution attempts as a way to assess representational change. Participants viewed a set of magic trick videos with the task of finding out how each trick worked, and rated six action verbs for each trick (including one that implied the correct solution) multiple times during solution. They were also asked to indicate the extent to which they experienced an Aha! moment. Patterns of ratings that showed a sudden change towards a correct solution led to stronger Aha! experiences than patterns that showed a more incremental change towards a correct solution, or a change towards incorrect solutions. The results show a connection between sudden changes in problem representations (leading to correct solutions) and the subjective appraisal of solutions as an Aha! experience. This offers the first empirical support for a close relationship between two theoretical constructs that have traditionally been assumed to be related to insightful problem solving.
Literatuur
go back to reference Davidson, J. E. (1995). The suddenness of insight. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 125–155). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Davidson, J. E. (1995). The suddenness of insight. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 125–155). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
go back to reference Dominowski, R. L., & Dallob, P. (1995). Insight and problem solving. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 33–62). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Dominowski, R. L., & Dallob, P. (1995). Insight and problem solving. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 33–62). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
go back to reference Duncker, K. (1926). A qualitative (experimental and theoretical) study of productive thinking (solving of comprehensible problems). Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology, 33, 642–708.CrossRef Duncker, K. (1926). A qualitative (experimental and theoretical) study of productive thinking (solving of comprehensible problems). Pedagogical Seminary and Journal of Genetic Psychology, 33, 642–708.CrossRef
go back to reference Durso, F. T., Rea, C. B., & Dayton, T. (1994). Graph-theoretic confirmation of restructuring during insight. Psychological Science, 5(2), 94–97.CrossRef Durso, F. T., Rea, C. B., & Dayton, T. (1994). Graph-theoretic confirmation of restructuring during insight. Psychological Science, 5(2), 94–97.CrossRef
go back to reference Gick, M. L., & Lockhart, R. S. (1995). Cognitive and affective components of insight. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 197–228). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Gick, M. L., & Lockhart, R. S. (1995). Cognitive and affective components of insight. In R. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson (Eds.), The nature of insight (pp. 197–228). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
go back to reference Utz, F. (2013). Dimensionen der Einsicht (Bachelor Thesis). Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Utz, F. (2013). Dimensionen der Einsicht (Bachelor Thesis). Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
go back to reference Wertheimer, M. (1925). Drei Abhandlungen zur Gestalttheorie. Erlangen: Verlag der Philosophischen Akademie Erlangen. Wertheimer, M. (1925). Drei Abhandlungen zur Gestalttheorie. Erlangen: Verlag der Philosophischen Akademie Erlangen.
go back to reference Wertheimer, M. (1959). Productive thinking. New York: Harper. Wertheimer, M. (1959). Productive thinking. New York: Harper.
Metagegevens
Titel
Closing the gap: connecting sudden representational change to the subjective Aha! experience in insightful problem solving
Auteurs
Amory H. Danek
Joshua Williams
Jennifer Wiley
Publicatiedatum
18-01-2018
Uitgeverij
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Gepubliceerd in
Psychological Research / Uitgave 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0340-0727
Elektronisch ISSN: 1430-2772
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-018-0977-8

Andere artikelen Uitgave 1/2020

Psychological Research 1/2020 Naar de uitgave