Transfer of Training in Problem Solving
Abstract
This report summarizes the results of experiments that attempt to delineate problem characteristics that control transfer of training between problems, and to discover those characteristics that make problems hard or easy to solve. The problems used were sets of isomorphs of the Tower of Hanoi Problem, and a set of isomorphs of the very difficult Chinese Ring Puzzle. The experiments determined the relationship between transfer and the difficulty of both the source and target problems. They demonstrate the importance of similarity of representation for transfer, and the primacy of representation over stimulus characteristics of the problems. In addition, the role of transfer in learning the move operators in the problems, and the function of that learning as a substitute for problem exploration were demonstrated. The interaction of the processing demands involved in modifying a skill so that it can be transferred and the demands involved in solving the problem was also explored. The results are presented in detail in the attached technical reports. Keywords: Problem Solving, Transfer, Representation, Analogy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA202850
Entities
People
- Kenneth Kotovsky
Organizations
- Community College of Allegheny County