An observation of human comprehension through wood joints assembly of a cube puzzle

Abstract

In Japan, cube puzzle toys are traditionally made of jointed wood. This paper explores the personal decision-making process necessary to correctly assemble a cube puzzle toy. Participants from Iwate Prefecture were divided into two groups, based on a questionnaire that assessed their skill level in assembling construction kits. The participants were presented with an unassembled toy and their actions, together with all of the conditions necessary for interpretation of the puzzle, were recorded with a VDO camera. As a result of the observations, new variables were developed to create three cube puzzle sets and customize the difficulty level associated with each puzzle. Furthermore, new information about how people define shapes was revealed during the observational stage of the study.