Document Type
Research Paper
Abstract
Strategies used by individuals to investigate a simple problem were compared for effectiveness. Eighty psychology students from the University of Northern Iowa investigated a small (videocassette) box containing moving objects and fixed barriers by manipulating it. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: those who generated a solution with no special aid (control); those who were instructed on using a systematic approach to solving the problem (systematic group); those who received a multiple choice aid, either before (pre-investigative multiple choice group) or after (post-investigative multiple choice group) achieving a solution. Subjects were instructed to draw a map or layout of the box's contents. Results indicated the experimental manipulations had a weak effect on strategies used or level of correctness. Typically subjects used a pragmatic strategy to solve the problem.
Publication Date
2000
Journal Title
Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference
Volume
4
Issue
1
First Page
218
Last Page
226
Copyright
©2000 by the University of Northern Iowa
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Publisher
University of Northern Iowa
City
Cedar Falls, IA
Recommended Citation
Walters, G. Scott; Abels, Sara; Blalock, Laura; Clark, Kristin; Pierce, Angie; Rouse, Jenny; Sims, Kristina; and Yates, Jack
(2000)
"Improving Strategies for Solving the Black Box Problem,"
Conference Proceedings: Undergraduate Social Science Research Conference: Vol. 4:
Iss.
1, Article 29.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/csbsproceedings/vol4/iss1/29
