Authors
Jonathan W Schooler, Stellan Ohlsson, Kevin Brooks
Publication date
1993/6
Journal
Journal of experimental psychology: General
Volume
122
Issue
2
Pages
166
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Description
Four experiments examined whether verbalization can interfere with insight problem solving. In Exp 1, Ss were interrupted during problem solving and asked either to verbalize their strategies (retrospective verbalization) or engage in an unrelated activity (control). Ss in the retrospective verbalization condition were significantly less successful than control Ss at solving the problems. Exp 2 replicated the finding of Exp 1 and demonstrated that the control Ss' advantage was not due to any beneficial effect of the interruption. In Exp 3, concurrent, nondirective verbalization impaired the solving of insight problems but had no effect on noninsight problems. In Exp 4, the effect of concurrent verbalization on insight was maintained even when Ss were encouraged to consider alternative approaches. Together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that verbalization can result in the disruption of nonreportable …
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Scholar articles
JW Schooler, S Ohlsson, K Brooks - Journal of experimental psychology: General, 1993