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Analogical Transfer: Processes and Individual Differences

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Analogical Reasoning

Part of the book series: Synthese Library ((SYLI,volume 197))

Abstract

How would you attempt to solve a math, logic, or puzzle problem? If the problem were to find the area of a circle, you might retrieve a memorized formula and plug in the appropriate numbers. For many problems, however, you will not have a pre-stored solution procedure in memory, and you will have to use the information presented, along with your knowledge of mathematical facts and general problem solving heuristics, to construct a new solution procedure. Alternatively, you could try to think of an analogous problem solved in the past. If your search for such a problem is successful, you may be able to adapt the old solution procedure for use with the new problem. This is an example of analogical transfer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of California, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-1563, USA

    Laura R. Novick

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  1. Laura R. Novick
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University, USA

    David H. Helman

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© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Novick, L.R. (1988). Analogical Transfer: Processes and Individual Differences. In: Helman, D.H. (eds) Analogical Reasoning. Synthese Library, vol 197. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7811-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7811-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8450-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-7811-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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