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Knowledge acquisition and strategic action in "Mastermind" problems.

J B Best1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston 61920.

Memory & Cognition
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
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Players improved at Mastermind by using a specific strategy, but this improvement wasn't due to deeper learning. Instead, they used the strategy to simplify game interpretation.

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Game Theory

Background:

  • Mastermind is a logical deduction game requiring strategic planning.
  • Understanding cognitive processes in strategic game playing is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate strategy acquisition and cognitive changes in Mastermind players.
  • To model the cognitive operations underlying Mastermind strategy deployment.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted to observe player behavior and strategy use.
  • A Markovian model was employed to analyze deduction accuracy and complexity.
  • Cognitive operations were modeled based on strategic actions and deduction quality.

Main Results:

  • Experiment 1 showed improvement linked to consistent strategy use, suggesting learning.

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  • Experiment 2 revealed that improved deduction accuracy and complexity were independent of strategy use.
  • A Markovian model accurately predicted deduction likelihood, indicating strategy deployment wasn't driven by knowledge changes.

    • Conclusions:

    • Players may use strategies like those in Mastermind to simplify problem interpretation rather than enhance underlying knowledge.
    • Findings suggest a distinction between strategic action and changes in strategic knowledge in logical deduction games.