Full text
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| Author(s): |
Rafael Silva Rodrigues
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2022-11-10 |
| Examining board members: |
Miriam Garcia Mijares;
Lourenço de Souza Barba;
Hernando Borges Neves Filho
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| Advisor: | Miriam Garcia Mijares |
| Abstract | |
Operant variability has been associated with creative performances and problem solving behavior. However, as far as we know, there are no studies evaluating the effects of operant variability in insightful problem solving. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between operant variability and its effects on participants general performance and type of resolution during a problem situation, using the video game Portal 2®. The general procedure had two phases. The first phase, or Training Phase, consisted of a sequence of 12 problems presented in virtual chambers. The other phase, the Test Phase, consisted of a new problem in a new virtual chamber. Participants were allocated into five groups: four of them undergoing a distinct Training Phase and a fifth, without any training - baseline group (BL). The Related Variability (RV) group learned a new behavioral chain in each chamber, related to the Test Phase problem; the Related Stereotypy (RS) group learned two behavioral chains, in all the problems of the Training Phase, related to the problem of the Test Phase; the Unrelated Variability (UV) group learned a new behavioral chain in each chamber, unrelated to the Test Phase problem; and the Unrelated Stereotypy (US) group learned the same behavioral chain in all problems in the Training Phase, unrelated to the Test Phase problem. After the Training Phase, all participants were presented with the same problem in the Test Phase. To solve this problem, the participants needed to emit a new behavioral chain that was not learned in the Training Phase. During the Training Phase, the RV and UV groups showed greater variety in behavioral topography when compared to the RS and US groups, respectively. During the Test Phase, the RV group showed higher occurrence of insight resolution, shorter problem resolution time and less interaction with non-relevant stimuli. The RS and UV groups, on the other hand, demonstrated similar performances with each other, with a higher occurrence of resolution by trial and error. The US and BL groups showed a higher occurrence of problem non-resolution and greater interaction with non-relevant stimuli. Therefore, the results suggest that operant variability may facilitate insightful behavior depending on the learning history. We discuss the effects of operant variability and training with related stimuli on problem solving, when separated or combined. In addition, some considerations are made regarding the possible role of stimulus control and behavioral variability on the occurrence of insightful behavior (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/27401-1 - Experimental procedure for evaluating creative problem solving in humans |
| Grantee: | Rafael Silva Rodrigues |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |