Eye-tracking and cognitive monitoring as the methods of insight process objectification

821

Abstract

Current article highlights the results of the research of specific mechanisms of insight problem solving. It is based on the analysis of eye movement record data made by eye-tracker. The recorded data included average pupil diameter [mm] and fixation duration [ms]; the distribution of averaged eye movement values within the areas of interest during the manipulations with problem space was analyzed. The eye movement data was compared to the cognitive monitoring method data. The specificity of insight problems in comparison with non-insight (algorithmized) problems was validated. Several qualitative features of insight problem solving and the organization of problem space were revealed. Additionally, the priority of visual processing during insight problem solving was discovered: fixation duration increased in the “main problem” AOI.

General Information

Keywords: average pupil diameter, fixation duration, eye-tracking, insight problem, working memory, monitoring, microdynamics, resource competition

Journal rubric: Research Methods

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2019120113

Funding. The study was supported by Russian Scientific Foundation project 16-18-10030, the grant of Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, 25.5666.2017/8.9, and RFBR, project 14-06-00441а.

For citation: Vladimirov I.Y., Chistopolskaya A.V. Eye-tracking and cognitive monitoring as the methods of insight process objectification. Eksperimental'naâ psihologiâ = Experimental Psychology (Russia), 2019. Vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 167–179. DOI: 10.17759/exppsy.2019120113. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Barabanshchikov V.A., Zhegallo A.V. Registraciya i analiz napravlennosti vzora cheloveka. [Registration and analysis of the person eye movement focus]. M.: Izd-vo «Institut psihologii RAN», 2013. 316 p.
  2. Vladimirov I.Yu., Chistopolskaya A.V. Dinamika raspredeleniya vnimaniya pri reshenii insaytnoy zadachi [The dynamics of attention allocation in insight problem solving]. Shestaya mezhdunarodnaya konferentsiya po kognitivnoy nauke: tezisyi dokladov; Kaliningrad, 23.06.14—27.06.14 [The Sixth International Conference on Cognitive Science: abstracts; Kaliningrad 23.06.14—27.06.14]. Kaliningrad: BFU of. I. Kanta Publ, 2014. pp. 213—215 (in Russian)
  3. Vladimirov I.Yu., Korovkin S.Yu. Rabochaya pamyat’ kak sistema, obsluzhivayushchaya myslitel’nyi protsess [Working memory as the thinking process utility system.]. Kognitivnaya psikhologiya: Fenomeny i problemy [Cognitive psychology: the phenomenon and problems]. Moscow.: Lenand Publ, 2014. pp. 8—21. (In Russian).
  4. Vladimirov I.Yu., Korovkin S.Yu., Chistopol’skaya A.V., Savinova A.D. Monitoring zagruzki ispolnitel’skogo kontrolya kak metod fiksatsii mikrodinamiki myslitel’nogo protsessa [Executive control load monitoring as a method of the thinking process microdynamics registration]. Psikhologiya kognitivnykh protsessov [Psychology of cognitive processes]. Smolensk: Universum Publ, 2013. pp. 18—22. (In Russian).
  5. Vladimirov I.Yu., Chistopolskaya A.V. Analysis of Gnostic Actions Using Eye Tracking as a Method of Studying Insight in Problem Solving. Kul’turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya [Cultural-Historical Psychology], 2016. Vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 24—34. doi:10.17759/chp.2016120103. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)
  6. Dunker K. Psikhologiya produktivnogo (tvorcheskogo) myshleniya [Psychology of productive (creative) thinking].Psikhologiya myshleniya [Psychology of thinking]. Moscow: Progress Publ., 1965. pp. 86—234. (In Russian)
  7. Lapteva E.M. Eye movements as indicator of solution knowledge in anagram solving. Eksperimental’naâ psihologiâ [Experimental Psychology (Russia)], 2016. Vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 41—53. doi:10.17759/ exppsy.2016090304 (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  8. Lyusin D.V. Vliyanie emotsii na vnimanie: analiz sovremennykh issledovanii [The influence of emotion on attention: an analysis of current research]. Kognitivnaya psikhologiya: Fenomeny i problemy [Cognitive psychology: the phenomenon and problems]. Moscow: Lenand Pub, 2014. pp. 146—160. (In Russian).
  9. Ellis J.J. Using Eye Movements to Investigate Insight Problem Solving. PhD thesis. University of Toronto. 2012. p. 111.
  10. Grant E.R., Spivey M.J. Eye movements and problem solving: Guiding attention guides thought. Psychological Science, vol. 14, no. 5, 2003. pp. 462—466.
  11. Hambrick D., Engle R. The Role of Working Memory in Problem Solving. The Psychology of Problem Solving. Davidson J., Sternberg R. (Eds.). NY: Cambridge University Press, 2003. pp. 176—207.
  12. Janisse, M.P. Pupillometry: the psychology of the pupillary response. New York: Hemisphere Pub. Corp., 1977.
  13. Jones G. (2003). Testing two cognitive theories of insight. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, vol. 29, no. 5, pp.1017—1027.
  14. Kahneman D. Attention and effort. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Inc. 1973.
  15. Knoblich G., Ohlsson S., Raney G.E. An eye movement study of insight problem solving. Memory & Cognition, 2001, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 1000—1009 doi: 10.3758/BF03195762
  16. Metcalfe J., Wiebe D. Intuition in insight and noninsight problem solving. Memory & Cognition, vol. 15, no. 3, 1987. pp. 238—246. doi: 10.3758/BF03197722
  17. Newell A., Simon H.A. Human problem solving. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1972. 920 p.
  18. Seifert C.M., Meyer D.E., Davidson N., Patalano A.L., & Yaniv I. Demystification of cognitive insight: Opportunistic assimilation and the prepared mind perspective. Sternberg R.J., Davidson J.E. (Eds.). The nature of insight. NY: Cambridge University Press, 1995. pp. 65—124.
  19. Thomas L.E., Lleras A. Moving eyes and moving thought: On the spatial compatibility between eye movements and cognition. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review,vol.. 14, no. 4, 2007. pp. 663—668. doi: 10.3758/ BF03196818
  20. Weisberg R.W., Alba J.W. An examination of the alleged role of “fixation” in the solution of “insight” problems. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, no. 110, 1981. pp. 169—192. doi: 10.1037/0096- 3445.110.2.169
  21. Wiley J., Jarosz A.F. How working memory capacity affects problem solving. Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 2012, vol. 56, 185—227.
  22. Wong T.J. Capturing «Aha!» moments of puzzle problems using pupillary responses and blinks: PhD thesis. University of Pittsburgh, 2009. 87 p.

Information About the Authors

Iliya Y. Vladimirov, Doctor of Psychology, associate professor, Department of General Psychology, P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9446-2975, e-mail: kein17@mail.ru

Aleksandra V. Chistopolskaya, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor of the Department of General Psychology, Researcher of Laboratory for Cognitive Research, P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6156-4876, e-mail: chistosasha@mail.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 1884
Previous month: 18
Current month: 19

Downloads

Total: 821
Previous month: 5
Current month: 0