Candle problem

Abstract: Summary-A funcional fixedness problem was constructed which consisted of two sub-tasks The initial sub-task, termed problem perception, was designed to involve minimal response competition The second, a functional fixedness sub-task, involved both high and low response competition Drive level did not influence problem perce2tion time High drive impaired problem-solving performance by increasing functional fixedness strength when response competition was high When response competition was low, drive did not influence functional fixedness strength The obtained interaaive effect of drive level with problem difficulty, predicted by Spence's drive theory, was attributed to the interactive effects of drive upon functional fixedness strengrh Glucksberg (1962) applied Spence's drive theory (1956) to a functional fixedness problem Using Duncker's candle problem (Duncker, 1945), a predicted interaction between drive level and problem complexity was obtained High drive impaired performance when the response designated as correct was low in the response hierarchy, but tended to facilitate performance when the correct response was high in the response hierarchy The measure of functional fixedness strength used in the earlier study was total time to solve the projlem Total time to solve, however, represents more than just functional fixedness strength In the candle problem, S must use a small pasteboard box in order to solve the problem of mounting a candle on a vertical surface The time score employed included the time from the beginning of the problem until S became aware of the nature of the problem, vzz, that something was needed to support the candle This particular portion of solution time can be described as problem perception time A measure of the strength of funccional fixedness is the time from problem perceprion until the functionally fixed object is used This portion of total solution cime can then be described as functional fixedness cime, representing the strength of funccional fixedness These two measures, problem perception time and functional fixedness time, can, in simple problems, comprise total solution time Can drive level influence problem solving by influencing the strength of functional fixedness per se? According to Spence's drive theory, high drive impairs performance in competitional response situations when the dominant response is incorrect and facilitates performance when the dominant response is correct If, however, the dominant correct response can be executed rapidly and easily, then the influence cf drive level is negligible (Glucksberg, 1962) By

Abstract: When Ss solve functional fixedness problems do they formulate the solution and then look for the object needed, or does perception of the functionally fixed object itself trigger solution? Duncker’s candle problem was administered in tactual form so that discrete observing responses (touching the functionally fixed object, a box filled with tacks) could be observed and counted by E. Problem solution occurred upon contact with the functionally fixed object. The specific contact immediately preceding problem solution was usually adventitious.