Locating the Difficulty in Insight Problems: Individual and Sex Differences

Abstract

This experiment was designed to determine whether difficult problems can be made easier by manipulating a major obstacle. Standard and supposedly simplified versions of 6 insight problems were used. 311 male and 233 female Ss were given 3 of the standard versions and 3 of the simplified versions of the problems. The results showed that the supposedly helpful manipulations had limited value. For males, the standard versions of only 3 of the problems were significantly more difficult than the simplified versions; for females, there were differences on 3 problems (2 in the same direction as the males) but none reached significance. The problems were analyzed individually for sources of failure of the manipulation. Results suggested that a single hint cannot provide significant improvement since a problem appears to be difficult for different people for a variety of reasons. Chance factors also play a part in successful problem solving. Results also confirmed earlier findings showing that hints or suggestions which seem helpful when the solution is known may serve as distractors to an individual attempting to discover the solution. Implications of the results for upgrading problem solving through training are discussed.