Lecture 10: Psychology of insight

Question 1

What is insight in problem-solving?

Answer 1

Insight is a change in conceptual understanding that allows a solution to be discovered and reused in the future.

Question 2

What are the key characteristics of insight?

Answer 2

• Fixation: Cognitive rigidity, such as functional fixedness.
• Impasse: A state of being stuck.
• ‘Aha’ Moment: Sudden realization of a solution.
• Incubation: Taking breaks that enhance problem-solving.

Question 3

How do Gestalt theories explain insight?

Answer 3

Insight stems from perceiving the problem as a whole. Misleading presentations may limit moves and hinder problem-solving.

Question 4

What is the Representational Change Theory (Knoblich et al., 1999)?

Answer 4

Insight occurs when constraints from prior knowledge are relaxed, allowing the problem to be restructured for a solution.

Question 5

What experiment did Knoblich et al. (1999) use to test Representational Change Theory?

Answer 5

Matchstick Algebra Task:

Participants moved one matchstick to make equations correct.
Example:
* IV = V + II (75% success).
* III = III + III (40% success).
Results showed that relaxing representational constraints improves success.

Question 6

What is the Criterion of Satisfactory Progress Theory (MacGregor, Ormerod, & Chronicle, 2001)?

Answer 6

Insight depends on strategies that balance reducing problem complexity and progressing toward the goal.

Question 7

How did MacGregor et al. (2001) test their theory?

Answer 7

• Analyzed start states, first moves, and late moves.
• Results showed that strategic planning (e.g., focusing on sub-goals) led to higher solution rates (43% vs. 65%).

Question 8

What experiment combined knowledge and strategy in insight?

Answer 8

The Eight-Coin Problem (Ormerod, Chronicle, & MacGregor, 2002):

• Task: Make all coins touch exactly three others by moving only two coins.
  Conditions:
• No Hint: Lower success rates.
• Visual Hint: Highlighted available moves.
• Verbal Hint: Described the need for grouping and 3D solutions.
  Results: Hints significantly increased solution rates.

Question 9

What role does analogy play in enhancing insight?

Answer 9

Analogies transfer knowledge from familiar problems to new ones, aiding problem-solving and learning.

Question 10

How did Gick & Holyoak (1980) demonstrate the importance of analogy?

Answer 10

Fortress Problem → Radiation Problem:
* With hints: 92% solved the Radiation Problem.
* Without hints: Only 20% solved it.
Results: Analogical thinking improves problem-solving with appropriate hints.

Question 11

How does training analogical thinking enhance insight?

Answer 11

Example: Nine-Ball Problem:
* Training Phase: Participants learned to identify faulty reactor rods using limited tests.
* Transfer Phase: Applied this strategy to new problems.

Question 12

What is incubation, and how does it enhance insight?

Answer 12

Incubation involves taking breaks from problem-solving, which allows unconscious processing and reduces fixation.

Question 13

What did Sio & Ormerod (2009) find about incubation in their meta-analysis?

Answer 13

• Divergent Thinking: Any incubation helps.
• Linguistic Insight: Benefits from low cognitive load during breaks.
• Visual Insight: Requires extended preparation before incubation benefits emerge.

Question 14

How does sleep enhance insight and analogy?

Answer 14

Sleep consolidates learning and promotes analogical transfer.

Question 15

What did Monaghan et al. (2015) find about sleep and problem-solving?

Answer 15

• Participants showed better analogical transfer after sleeping.
• Suggested doing one problem before sleep and another upon waking for enhanced problem-solving.

Question 16

What is fixation, and how does it hinder insight?

Answer 16

Fixation is cognitive rigidity that prevents thinking outside imposed constraints, such as functional fixedness.

Question 17

What is an ‘Aha’ moment?

Answer 17

A sudden realization that resolves a problem by breaking through constraints or introducing new understanding.

Question 18

What did Knoblich et al. (1999) contribute to insight research?

Answer 18

Developed Representational Change Theory, demonstrating that problem constraints from prior knowledge affect success.

Question 19

What did MacGregor, Ormerod, & Chronicle (2001) propose?

Answer 19

Criterion of Satisfactory Progress Theory, emphasizing the role of strategic moves in problem-solving.

Question 20

How did Ormerod, Chronicle, & MacGregor (2002) expand insight research?

Answer 20

Combined knowledge and strategy in the Eight-Coin Problem, showing how hints influence problem-solving success.

Question 21

What did Gick & Holyoak (1980) demonstrate about analogy?

Answer 21

Analogical thinking improves problem-solving, as shown in the Fortress and Radiation problems.

Question 22

What did Sio & Ormerod (2009) conclude about incubation?

Answer 22

Different types of incubation (e.g., linguistic, visual) enhance problem-solving under specific conditions.

Question 23

What was Monaghan et al.’s (2015) key finding about sleep?

Answer 23

Sleep significantly improves analogical problem-solving and transfer.

Question 24

How can analogy be applied in real-life problem-solving?

Answer 24

By transferring strategies from familiar problems to new ones, analogy enhances learning and adaptability.

Question 25

Why is incubation important in creative tasks?

Answer 25

Breaks allow unconscious processing, helping overcome fixation and improving problem-solving.

Question 26

What is the role of sleep in academic tasks?

Answer 26

Sleep consolidates information, improving learning, insight, and problem-solving.

Question 27

What are the characteristics of productive thought?

Answer 27

Productive thought involves creativity, breaking constraints, and generating novel solutions.

Question 28

What is the relationship between Gestalt principles and insight?

Answer 28

Gestalt principles emphasize perceiving the problem holistically, which is critical for insight.

Question 29

What is functional fixedness?

Answer 29

A cognitive bias limiting individuals to using objects or concepts in their traditional functions.

Question 30

How does the Eight-Coin Problem illustrate insight?

Answer 30

It requires rethinking constraints (e.g., using 3D solutions) to achieve the goal.