Modeling and Flexibility in Problem-Solving

Abstract

To study the effect of modeling on flexibility in problem solving, 67 male and 74 female college students were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups: 3 modeling groups, which observed a model solving anagrams in a flexible or rigid manner, and 2 control groups. The results showed that Ss who observed a model solving anagrams in a variety of ways solved anagrams in a more varied manner than Ss in the other conditions. Further, all the modeling groups solved anagrams more flexibly than the two control groups.