ERIC Number: EJ834975
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-May
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0010-0285
EISSN: N/A
The Strategic Nature of Changing Your Mind
Walsh, Matthew M.; Anderson, John R.
Cognitive Psychology, v58 n3 p416-440 May 2009
In two experiments, we studied how people's strategy choices emerge through an initial and then a more considered evaluation of available strategies. The experiments employed a computer-based paradigm where participants solved multiplication problems using mental and calculator solutions. In addition to recording responses and solution times, we gathered data on mouse cursor movements. Participants' motor behavior was revealing; although people rapidly initiated movement to the calculator box or the answer input box, they frequently changed their minds and went to the other box. Movement initiation direction depended on problem difficulty and calculator responsiveness. Ultimate strategy selection also depended on these factors, but was further influenced by movement initiation direction. We conclude that strategy selection is iterative, as revealed by these differences between early cursor movement and eventual strategy implementation. After rapidly initiating movement favoring one strategy, people carefully evaluate the applicability of that strategy in the current context. (Contains 11 figures and 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Change Strategies, Cognitive Processes, Computer Mediated Communication, Models, Problem Solving, Multiplication, Calculators, Mental Computation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A