An eye movement study of insight problem solving

Günther Knoblich, Stellan Ohlsson, Gary E. Raney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

The representational change theory of insight claims that insight problems cause impasses because they mislead problem solvers into constructing inappropriate initial representations. Insight is attained when the initial representation is changed. In the present study (N = 24), we tested three specific implications of these hypotheses against eye movements recorded while participants solved matchstick arithmetic problems. The results were consistent with the predictions, providing converging evidence with prior findings using solution rates and solution times. Alternative theories of insight can explain individual findings, but only the representational change theory accounts for both the performance data and the eye movement data. The present study also suggests that eye movement recordings provide an important new window into processes of insight problem solving.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberBF03195762
Pages (from-to)1000-1009
Number of pages10
JournalMemory and Cognition
Volume29
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

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