In Luchins' water jar problems, participants are asked to use three jars of differing volumes (A, B, and C) to create various final amounts of water. After the first few trials, participants learn that the same formula (B-A-2C) will provide the answer for each of the first few problems. However, Luchins noticed that people had the tendency to continue using this formula on other problems, even when these problems had simpler solutions (such as A-C). This particular problem-solving block is called
A)inadequate framing of the problem
B)flawed inductive reasoning
C)a belief bias
D)a mental set

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Luchins' water jar problems illustrate the concept of a mental set, where individuals persist in using a problem-solving strategy that has worked in the past, even when a simpler solution is available.

In Luchins' Water Jar Problems, Participants Are Asked to Use