Restructuring revisited

The Gestalt psychologists proposed that restructuring ( Umstrukturierung ) is an essential process in thinking. This concept has not been integrated into the information processing theory of problem solving. As a preparation for such an integration, the Gestalt writings about restructuring in problem solving are summarized in a set of principles. Critical scrutiny shows that some Gestalt principles are overstated; others have very weak empirical support. But the psychological reality of restructuring is not in doubt, in spite of the recent criticism by Weisberg and Alba (1982 a ). A unified theory of thinking should interpret restructuring in information processing terms, and explain the relation between restructuring and search.     

Temporal factors in audition and vision: A functional emphasis

Sixty-four subjects were tested in an experiment relating temporal factors to the modality effect. The experiment involved both an immediate recall and a recognition phase. Recall scores supported a functional view of the modality effect, while the one-and two-store models only partially predicted the data. The recognition data could only be accounted for in functional terms. A non-parametric compatibility score was suggested to capture the recognition performance. The effect of a shift of input mode (in Phase I) to test mode (in Phase II) was also analyzed.     

Restructuring revisited

The central concept of the information processing theory of problem solving is search. In contrast, the central concept of the Gestalt theory of problem solving is restructuring. Both concepts express important aspects of human thinking. A theory is presented which interprets restructuring and the related concept of insight in information processing terms. It is hypothesised that restructuring is a change in mental representation which affects the applicability of problem solving operators. Insight is hypothesized to occur when restructuring of the search space brings the goal state within the horizon of mental look-ahead.     

Retrieval processes in restructuring: Answer to Keane

In a comment on the attempt by Ohlsson (1984) to interpret the Gestalt theory of restructuring and insight in information processing terms, Keane argues that memory retrieval is central to restructuring and that Ohlsson ignores higher-order memory organizations. Careful comparison between Ohlsson's and Keane's hypotheses about what kind of retrieval occurs in restructuring reveals that they take different stands on three well-known issues in the study of knowledge representation: semantic vs. episodic memory, declarative vs. procedural knowledge, and "small" vs. "large" memory units. Since humans obviously have several types of memory units, both types of retrieval processes may be involved in restructuring.     

On natural and technical knowledge domains

A distinction is introduced between technical and natural knowledge domains. Four criteria by which they can be distinguished are presented, and examples given. The distinction is applied to the study of problem solving. The conclusion is that certain problem solving methods cannot be expected to occur in natural knowledge domains.