Reasoning as an Associative Process: II. “Direction” in Problem Solving as a Function of Prior Reinforcement of Relevant Responses

Abstract

Several studies are described in which relevant patterns of verbal associations, set up by learning in the first stage of the experiment, are shown to be associated with the frequencies of certain types of solution in the Maier two string and hat rack problems. It is also shown, in the case of a simple verbal problem, that problem solution requiring choice of members of a chain of free associations is affected by prior reinforcement of one member of the chain. These investigations are interpreted as giving support to and indicating the fruitfulness of a conception of set or direction in problem solving as consisting of complex response systems or habit families.