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Guiding Attention Produces Inferences in Diagram-Based Problem Solving

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Diagrammatic Representation and Inference (Diagrams 2002)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2317))

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Abstract

Many eye-tracking studies have shown that visual attention patterns during diagram-based problem solving, measured by eye movements, reveal critical aspects of the problem solving process that traditional measures like solution time and accuracy cannot address. In our first experiment (n = 14), we use this method during the solution of a widely-studied high level reasoning problem, Duncker’s (1945) radiation problem, to show that differences in visual attention to a particular diagram feature corresponds with correctly solving the problem. We then extend these findings in a second experiment (n = 81) to evaluate cognitive sensitivity to perceptual changes in the diagram. We show that problem solvers are highly sensitive to the diagram structure, and that the shifts in attention that result from subtle perceptual changes in the diagram appear to have a dramatic positive effect on reasoning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Elizabeth R. Grant

  2. Department of Psychology, Cornell University, 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Michael J. Spivey

Authors
  1. Elizabeth R. Grant
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  2. Michael J. Spivey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Mary Hegarty

  2. School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, 3800, Victoria, Australia

    Bernd Meyer

  3. Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Auburn University, 107 Dunstan Hall, 36849, Auburn, AL, USA

    N. Hari Narayanan

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© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Grant, E.R., Spivey, M.J. (2002). Guiding Attention Produces Inferences in Diagram-Based Problem Solving. In: Hegarty, M., Meyer, B., Narayanan, N.H. (eds) Diagrammatic Representation and Inference. Diagrams 2002. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2317. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46037-3_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46037-3_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43561-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-46037-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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