When shoes become hammers: Goal-derived categorization training enhances problem-solving performance.

@article{citeulike:816333, abstract = {Problem-solving theories have not examined how solvers navigate their knowledge to interpret problem situations or to plan strategies toward goals. In this article, the author argues that success in problem solving depends on the solver's ability to construct goal-derived categories, namely categories that are formed ad hoc to serve goals during the instantiation of problem frames. Experiment 1 (N = 140) showed improved problem-solving performance after training to construct goal-derived categories. Experiment 2 (N = 80) demonstrated that effects of training in category construction can be obtained without participants being explicitly informed regarding the relevance of training to problem solving. These studies suggest that problem solving is a dynamic expression of goal-directed cognition and provide evidence for the involvement of categorization in problem-solving processes.}, address = {Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. lila@temple.edu}, author = {Chrysikou, E. G. }, citeulike-article-id = {816333}, doi = {10.1037/0278-7393.32.4.935}, issn = {0278-7393}, journal = {J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn}, keywords = {thinking}, month = {July}, number = {4}, pages = {935--942}, posted-at = {2006-08-25 06:04:47}, priority = {2}, title = {When shoes become hammers: Goal-derived categorization training enhances problem-solving performance.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.32.4.935}, volume = {32}, year = {2006} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:816333 L3 - citeulike-article-id:816333 TI - When shoes become hammers: Goal-derived categorization training enhances problem-solving performance. JF - J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn VL - 32 IS - 4 SP - 935 EP - 942 AD - Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. lila@temple.edu SN - 0278-7393 N2 - Problem-solving theories have not examined how solvers navigate their knowledge to interpret problem situations or to plan strategies toward goals. In this article, the author argues that success in problem solving depends on the solver's ability to construct goal-derived categories, namely categories that are formed ad hoc to serve goals during the instantiation of problem frames. Experiment 1 (N = 140) showed improved problem-solving performance after training to construct goal-derived categories. Experiment 2 (N = 80) demonstrated that effects of training in category construction can be obtained without participants being explicitly informed regarding the relevance of training to problem solving. These studies suggest that problem solving is a dynamic expression of goal-directed cognition and provide evidence for the involvement of categorization in problem-solving processes. KW - thinking AU - Chrysikou, EG PY - 2006/07// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.32.4.935 ER -