Cognitive Tool Kit

Chapter 1. Mental Set

1.1 Introduction

Cognitive Tool Kit

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Mental Set

This experiment replicates the work of Luchins (1942). Luchins used his well-known water jug problem as a model for the problem-solving error known as mental set. Mental set is an inhibitory phenomenon that has been identified in the higher-level cognitive domain known as problem solving. It occurs when individuals are required to solve a novel problem and employ a frequently used strategy that has been successful with other types of problems. In the water jug problem, participants are required to find the optimal strategy for filling a water jug of a specified volume. They are presented with other jugs of various sizes and must use them to produce the desired volume. Luchins (1942) identified a perseveration error in this procedure: Participants who are forced to use a particular strategy in the early examples fail to shift to a more efficient strategy later because they have taken on a “mental set” and they continue to solve problems in the manner that was most effective in the early examples.

References:

Luchins, A.S. (1942). Mechanization in problem solving: The effect of Einstellung. Psychological Monographs,54(6), 3-95.

Wiley, J. (1998). Expertise as mental set: The effects of domain knowledge in creative problem solving. Memory & Cognition, 26(4), 716-730.

Hunter, I.M. (1956). The influence of mental set on problem solving. British Journal of Psychology, 47, 63-64.

1.2 Experiment Setup

1.3 Instructions

Instructions

You will need to press the space bar to start the experiment. When you do, a set of problems will appear on the screen one at a time, with instructions on how to solve the problem and enter your answer. After you enter your answer for one problem, press the Enter key. A new screen will be displayed that will prompt you to move on to the next problem. When you have solved all the problems, the experiment will be finished.

1.4 Experiment

Begin Experiment

Start Experiment

1.5 Results

Results

1.6 Quiz

Quiz

Question 1.1

The water jug problem demonstrates that one consequence of having a solution to a problem is that, if well-learned, the solution may prevent us from:

seeing more efficient solutions to the problem.

understanding why the procedure works successfully.

discriminating between well-defined and ill-defined problems.

being able to solve other problems at all.

Correct.

Incorrect.

The water jug problem demonstrates that one consequence of having a solution to a problem is that, if well-learned, the solution may prevent us from seeing more efficient solutions to the problem. Luchins (1942) identified a perseveration error in which participants were forced to use a particular strategy for the early examples and then failed to shift to a more efficient strategy for the later examples because they had taken on a “mental set” and continued to solve problems in the manner that was most effective in the early examples.

Question 1.2

What was the primary independent variable of this experiment?

the number of potential solutions to the target problem

the number of jugs required to solve the target problem

whether participants were subliminally given the target answer prior to the target problem

whether participants were exposed to the list of complex problems prior to the target problem

Correct.

Incorrect.

The primary independent variable was whether participants were exposed to the list of complex problems prior to the target problem.

Question 1.3

What was the primary dependent variable of this experiment?

the number of jugs used to solve the problem

the number of correct solutions generated to solve the problem

the solution used to solve the problem

the amount of time needed to solve the problem

Correct.

Incorrect.

The primary dependent variable was thesolution used to solve the problem.

Question 1.4

What area of cognitive psychology did Luchins study?

motivation

creativity

problem solving

bias

Correct.

Incorrect.

Luchins studied the higher-level cognitive domain known as problem solving.

Question 1.5

Mental set occurs when participants attempt to solve:

a novel problem using a frequently used, but less efficient strategy.

a novel problem using a novel strategy.

a familiar problem using a frequently used, but less efficient strategy.

a familiar problem using a novel strategy.

Correct.

Incorrect.

Mental set occurs when participants attempt to solve a novel problem using a frequently used, but less efficient strategy. Although the strategy has been successful with other types of problems, it is not the most efficient strategy for the target problem.