Intuition versus analysis: Strategy and experience in complex everyday problem solving

Research on dual processes in cognition has shown that explicit, analytical thought is more powerful and less vulnerable to heuristics and biases than is implicit, intuitive thought. However, several studies have shown that holistic, intuitive processes can outperform analysis, documenting the disru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memory & cognition 2008-04, Vol.36 (3), p.554-566
Main Author: Pretz, Jean E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Bias
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition. Intelligence
Cognitive Psychology
Decision Making
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heuristic
Humans
Hypotheses
Hypothesis testing
Intuition
Male
Mental Processes
Metacognition
Nonverbal communication
Problem solving
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reasoning. Problem solving
Studies
Tacit knowledge
Theory
Time Factors
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Summary:Research on dual processes in cognition has shown that explicit, analytical thought is more powerful and less vulnerable to heuristics and biases than is implicit, intuitive thought. However, several studies have shown that holistic, intuitive processes can outperform analysis, documenting the disruptive effects of hypothesis testing, think-aloud protocols, and analytical judgments. To examine the effects of intuitive versus analytical strategy and level of experience on problem solving, 1st- through 4th-year undergraduates solved problems dealing with college life. The results of two studies showed that the appropriateness of strategy depends on the problem solver’s level of experience. Analysis was found to be an appropriate strategy for more experienced individuals, whereas novices scored best when they took a holistic, intuitive perspective. Similar effects of strategy were found when strategy instruction was manipulated and when participants were compared on the basis of strategy preference. The implications for research on problem solving, expertise, and dual-process models are discussed.
ISSN:0090-502X
1532-5946
DOI:10.3758/MC.36.3.554