Why do people fail to see simple solutions? Using think-aloud protocols to uncover the mechanism behind the Einstellung (mental set) effect

Blech, Christine; Gaschler, Robert; Bilalić, Merim

doi:10.1080/13546783.2019.1685001

Cited by 26Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsCreativity in Education and NeuroscienceMemory Processes and Influences

Why do people fail to see simple solutions? Using think-aloud protocols to uncover the mechanism behind the Einstellung (mental set) effect

Blech, Christine, Gaschler, Robert, Bilalić, Merim·2020·Thinking & Reasoning

DOI 10.1080/13546783.2019.1685001

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Abstract

Einstellung (mental set) effects designate the phenomenon where established routines can prevent people from finding other, possibly more efficient solutions. Here we investigate the mechanism behind this phenomenon by using Luchins’ classical water jug paradigm with concurrent verbalization. We find no difference in the extent of the Einstellung effect between the group which was instructed to think aloud during the problem solving and the group which was thinking silently. The think-aloud protocols indicate that the participants who exhibited the Einstellung effect repeatedly attempted to solve the water jug problem by using variations of the previously successful method which had been rendered inappropriate in the final problem. Our study underlines the usefulness of the think-aloud technique in tracking the cognitive processes. More importantly, it demonstrates how, once thought has been activated, it may bias subsequent dealings with new situations, even in the face of repeated failure that people experience in the Einstellung situations.

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Authors: Blech, C., Gaschler, R., & Bilalić, M.
Affiliations: FernUniversität in Hagen (DE)
Department of Psychology, Northumbria University Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Corresponding author: Blech, Christine
ORCID: Blech, Christine
Gaschler, Robert
Venue: Thinking & Reasoning
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2019-11-04
Volume: 26
Issue: 4
Pages: 552-580
ISSN: 1354-6783 (ISSN-L)
1464-0708
DOI: 10.1080/13546783.2019.1685001
OpenAlex: W2985039534
Cited by: 26
References: 51
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1
FWCI: 2.21
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Thinking & Reasoning (publishedVersion)
Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords: Einstellung effect, mental set, think-aloud, problem solving, cognitive biases, solution search, cognitive processes, verbalization

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Why do people fail to see simple solutions? Using think-aloud protocols to uncover the mechanism behind the Einstellung (mental set) effect

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