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Beyond Psychometrics: The Difference between Difficult Problem Solving and Complex Problem Solving.

Jens F Beckmann1, Damian P Birney2, Natassia Goode3

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Differentiating complexity and difficulty in complex problem solving (CPS) is crucial for theory building. This study shows how task and situation characteristics influence cognitive demands, impacting problem-solving success and understanding cognitive mechanisms.

Keywords:
complex problem solvingcomplexity vs. difficultyperson–task–situationsemantic effectsystematicity

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Artificial Intelligence

Background:

  • Theory building in complex problem solving (CPS) is hindered by conflating complexity and difficulty.
  • A clear distinction is needed to advance understanding of cognitive mechanisms in CPS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and test a Person-Task-Situation (PTS) framework differentiating complexity and difficulty.
  • To investigate the cognitive processes underlying the 'semantic effect' in CPS.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a PTS framework where complexity is cognitive demand and difficulty is success level.
  • Empirically tested the framework with 240 students in a CPS task manipulating semanticity and instruction conditions.
  • Analyzed cognitive mechanisms by contrasting systematic elimination vs. compilation of causal knowledge.

Main Results:

  • High semanticity with a 'blank slate' approach increased complexity due to inhibiting prior assumptions.
  • Employing systematic heuristics against existing presumptions was found to be more difficult.
  • Situational factors like semanticity can create qualitatively different tasks, impacting cognitive load.

Conclusions:

  • Failing to differentiate task and situation complexity, and conflating complexity with difficulty, threatens the validity of CPS research.
  • The PTS framework offers a more nuanced understanding of cognitive processes in complex problem solving.
  • Distinguishing complexity and difficulty advances psychometric perspectives and cognitive mechanism analysis in CPS.