Analogical Transfer: Processes and Individual Differences

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.