Externalizations and the Load on Working Memory in Problem Solving

Effects and the content of externalization during problem solving tasks causing different loads on working memory were investigated. Junior college student participants (N = 26) played five three-dimensional versions of number guessing games that directly used working memory resources, either with or without the possibility of using external resources such as papers and pencils. Results indicated that the load of the games on working memory affected the performance of participants. However, there were no differences in performance between participants who did or did not use external resources. Externalization contents that participants wrote on paper were also analyzed. The results indicated that participants tended to externalize all game records compared with parts of these or others, suggesting that game performance was not facilitated by externalization. Results also suggest that game records that were used for distributing working memory resources over external and internal representations have an important role in problem solving tasks