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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

An integrated perspective on insight.

Øyvind L Martinsen¹, Adrian Furnham¹, Thorvald Hærem¹

¹Department for Leadership and Organizational Behavior, Norwegian Business School.

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General

|October 4, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cognitive style and achievement needs interact with search constraints to influence insight problem-solving. High motivation can hinder performance when cognitive style matches task demands, but aids it otherwise.

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Educational Psychology

Background:

Insight problem-solving is influenced by cognitive processing and motivation.
Cognitive styles, such as Assimilator and Explorer, impact how individuals approach problems.
Achievement motivation theory suggests motivation levels affect task performance.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how cognitive style and achievement needs moderate the effectiveness of search constraints (prior experience, solution hints) in insight problem-solving.
To test the hypothesis that optimal achievement motivation levels vary based on task conditions and cognitive style.
To integrate information processing theory with cognitive style and achievement motivation theories.

Main Methods:

A randomized experiment with 476 participants (mean age 18.4 years).
Manipulation of achievement needs (3 levels) and availability of solution hints.
Measurement of cognitive style (Assimilator-Explorer) and prior problem-solving experience.
Inclusion of intelligence controls.

Main Results:

Significant three-way interactions were found between cognitive style, achievement needs, and search constraints.
Performance outcomes were counterintuitive: high achievement needs led to poorer performance with appropriate stylistic competence.
Performance improved with increasing motivation when cognitive style was less appropriate for task characteristics.

Conclusions:

Cognitive style and achievement needs significantly moderate the impact of search constraints on insight problem-solving.
The findings support and extend achievement motivation theory in the context of cognitive processing.
Implications are discussed for information processing theories of insight and problem-solving strategies.