A Test of the Circumvention-of-Limits Hypothesis in Scientific Problem Solving: The Case of Geological Bedrock Mapping

Sources of individual differences in scientific problem solving were investigated. Participants representing a wide range of experience in geology completed tests of visuospatial ability and geological knowledge, and performed a geological bedrock mapping task, in which they attempted to infer the g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. General 2012-08, Vol.141 (3), p.397-403
Main Authors: Hambrick, David Z, Libarkin, Julie C, Petcovic, Heather L, Baker, Kathleen M, Elkins, Joe, Callahan, Caitlin N, Turner, Sheldon P, Rench, Tara A, LaDue, Nicole D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cartography
Cognition
Cognition. Intelligence
Cognitive Ability
Experience Level
Experimental psychology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geology
Human
Humans
Individual Differences
Individuality
Knowledge
Knowledge Level
Learning
Male
Mapping
Middle Aged
Montana
Neuropsychological Tests
Problem Solving
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reasoning. Problem solving
Sciences
Space Perception
Spatial Ability
Visuospatial Ability
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Summary:Sources of individual differences in scientific problem solving were investigated. Participants representing a wide range of experience in geology completed tests of visuospatial ability and geological knowledge, and performed a geological bedrock mapping task, in which they attempted to infer the geological structure of an area in the Tobacco Root Mountains of Montana. A Visuospatial Ability x Geological Knowledge interaction was found, such that visuospatial ability positively predicted mapping performance at low, but not high, levels of geological knowledge. This finding suggests that high levels of domain knowledge may sometimes enable circumvention of performance limitations associated with cognitive abilities. (Contains 3 figures, 4 tables and 4 footnotes.)
ISSN:0096-3445
1939-2222
DOI:10.1037/a0025927