Chapter 1. Nine Dot Problem

1.1 Introduction

Problems are called problems for a reason: their solutions are not obvious. Psychologists have long studied what it is about problems that make them easier or harder to solve. What are the cognitive mechanisms that help us or hurt us in solving problems? In this task, you will be presented with a classic laboratory problem. After you try to solve the problem, the results will be presented, and we will examine what it is was about this problem that tends to make it difficult.

1.2 Experiment Setup

1.3 Instructions

In this experiment, you will be asked to connect dots by drawing multiple connected lines. To draw these lines, click the mouse to indicate one end point. The computer will then display a line going from the location of your click to where your mouse is currently. When you are at the end of the line that you want, click the mouse again. Since you will need to draw multiple connected lines, this second click will also indicate the beginning of the next line. When you have drawn all the lines allowed, the mouse will stop drawing lines. Clicking again will clear the screen and allow you to start again unless you have done the task correctly. There is also a “Start Over” button that you can use to begin drawing again.

There are two steps in this experiment. First, you will be given a training exercise for the task, and then you will be asked to solve the actual problem. The instructions will be almost identical and will be presented on the screen with each problem.

1.4 Experiment

1.5 Results

1.6 Quiz