Effects of Role Exchange between Task-doing and Observing Others on Insight Problem-Solving

We experimentally examined the effects of role exchange between task-doing and observing others on insight problemsolving. Sixty undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: (1) solo, (2) trial-and-otherobservation pair, (3) and trial-and-self-observation. In the first condition (15 individuals), the participants were asked to solve the T puzzle. In the second condition (15 pairs), each member of a pair was required to perform the task by alternating the roles of working with the pieces and of watching the partner’s performance every 20 seconds. In the third condition, the participants were instructed to work alone and to alternate the same roles as those in the second condition. The results showed that the role exchange between task-doling and observing others had a facilitative effect on insight problem-solving, while the role exchange within an individual had a negative effect