Problem finding, problem solving, and cognitive controls: An empirical investigation of critically acclaimed productivity

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Abstract
In an exploration of the relationship among problem finding, problem solving, and cognitive controls, 80 adult male subjects were studied in four groups based on their domain of expertise (art or science) and their professional productivity (critically acclaimed professional producer or professionally competent). A MANOVA, followed by post hoc analyses of covariance, revealed that the critically acclaimed professional producers in art and in science differed from the professionally competent artists and scientists. The critically acclaimed professional producers devoted a larger proportion of their total response time to finding a problem in a decontextualized task and utilized a larger proportion of abstract functions on a sorting task. Chi‐square tests of homogeneity revealed group differences with respect to the types of constructions created on a problem‐finding task, the strategy used in a spatial‐visualization task, and the responses regarding attitude toward taking chances. Educational implications were drawn based on a model of problem situations involving problem formulation, method formulation, solution formulation, and the relationships among the differentiating variables.

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