Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect: Goal Induced Decrements in the Accuracy of Action- and Observation-based Problem Solving
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: Recently, studies of problem solving within a dynamic environment (e.g.Burns & Vollmeyer, 2002;Vollmeyer, Burns, & Holyoak, 1996) show that performance is more accurate when people are engaged in a non-specific goal compared with a specific goal.We discuss findings from an experiment that was designed to replicate and extend the original work of Burns and Vollmeyer (2002).In Burns and Vollmeyer's study the learning phase of the problem solving task was action based, whereas in the present study participants either learnt to solve the task under observational or action conditions.Consistent with the original findings, this study shows that goal specificity affects the accuracy of problem solving in the same way when the learning phase of the task is observational rather action based.Additionally, the present study is an example in which there are no benefits of action over observational learning.
Authors: Cecilia Heyes, Magda Osman
Institution: University College London
Language: English
Subfield: Artificial Intelligence
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G3448090337, G841499813
OpenAlex ID: W2591573116