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Enabling spontaneous analogy through heuristic change
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 08:18 authored by Thomas OrmerodThomas Ormerod, James N MacGregorDespite analogy playing a central role in theories of problem solving, learning and education, demonstrations of spontaneous analogical transfer are rare. Here, we present a theory of heuristic change for spontaneous analogical transfer, tested in four experiments that manipulated the experience of failure to solve a source problem prior to attempting a target problem. In Experiment 1, participants solved more source problems that contained an additional financial constraint designed to signal the inappropriateness of moves that maximized progress towards the goal. This constraint also led to higher rates of spontaneous analogical transfer to a superficially similar problem. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that the effects of this constraint extend to superficially and structurally different analogs. Experiment 4 generalized the finding to a non-analogous target problem that also benefitted from inhibiting maximizing moves. The results indicate that spontaneous transfer can arise through experience during the solution of a source problem that alters the heuristic chosen for solving both analogical and non-analogical target problems.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Cognitive PsychologyISSN
0010-0285Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
99Page range
1-16Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2017-10-16First Open Access (FOA) Date
2018-10-23First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-10-16Usage metrics
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