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Directed forgetting in problem solving.

Tobias Tempel1, Christian Frings2

  • 1Ludwigsburg University of Education, Germany.

Acta Psychologica
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Intentional forgetting, using the list method of directed forgetting, reduces reliance on previously learned problem-solving routines. This memory technique impacts cognitive flexibility and skill recall in problem-solving tasks.

Keywords:
EinstellungIntentional forgettingMechanization in problem solvingWater-jar problem

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Memory Research
  • Problem-Solving Studies

Background:

  • Directed forgetting is a memory control process.
  • Problem-solving often involves recalling and applying learned routines.
  • Intentional forgetting may influence the accessibility of established cognitive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of intentional forgetting on the retrieval of previously learned problem-solving routines.
  • To adapt the list method of directed forgetting for studying the forgetting of procedural knowledge.
  • To determine if instructing participants to forget a learned routine impacts subsequent problem-solving performance.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted using adapted list methods of directed forgetting.
  • Participants practiced problem-solving routines (water-jar problems, anagrams).
  • One group received a forget instruction for the first routine; a control group did not.

Main Results:

  • Intentional forgetting significantly reduced the use of the first practiced routine in solving test problems.
  • Forget instructions decreased solution speed for anagrams requiring the forgotten routine.
  • Participants demonstrated reduced reliance on a practiced routine after being told to forget its acquisition.

Conclusions:

  • Intentional forgetting effectively diminishes the application of previously acquired problem-solving routines.
  • The findings support the role of directed forgetting in modulating cognitive strategy use.
  • Memory management techniques can influence the flexibility of cognitive processes in problem-solving.