Mere Repetition of a Verbal Cue in Problem Solving

Abstract

Latency to solution of a measurement of circumference problem requiring the use of a string was employed to determine the repetition effect of 1, 15, 30, and 60 repetitions of a cue relevant to problem solution, a cue irrelevant but phonetically related, and an irrelevant cue. Latency to solution was significantly slower for subjects in the 60-repetition condition and faster for those in the 0-repetition control and 1-repetition conditions.