{"pk":26224,"title":"When High WMC Promotes Mental Set: A Model of the Water Jar Task","subtitle":null,"abstract":"Differences in working memory capacity (WM C) relate to\nperformance on a variety of problem solving tasks. High WM C is\nbeneficial for solving analytical problems, but can hinder\nperformance on insight problems (DeCaro & Beilock, 2010). One\nsuggested reason for WM C-related differences in problem solving\nperformance is differences in strategy selection, in which high\nWM C individuals tend toward complex algorithmic strategies\n(Engle, 2002). High WM C might increase the likelihood of non-\noptimal performance on Luchins’ (1942) water jar task because high\nWM C solvers tend toward longer solutions, not noticing when\nshorter solutions become available. We present empirical data\nshowing this effect, and a computational model that replicates the\nfindings by choosing among problem solving strategies with\ndifferent WM demands. The high WM C model used a memory-\nintensive strategy, which led to long solutions when shorter ones\nwere available. The low WM C model was unable to use that\nstrategy, and switched to shorter solutions.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[{"word":"Working memory capacity; problem solving;\nstrategy selection; computational modeling"}],"section":"Papers","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8gz9d6m4","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Erin","middle_name":"E.","last_name":"Sovansky","name_suffix":"","institution":"University of Illinois","department":""},{"first_name":"Stellan","middle_name":"","last_name":"Ohlsson","name_suffix":"","institution":"University of Illinois","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"2016-01-01T18:00:00Z","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/26224/galley/15860/download/"}]}