title: Solve the problem first: constructive solution strategies can influence the accuracy of retrospective confidence judgments.
abstract: Two experiments tested whether differences in problem-solving strategies influence the ability of people to monitor their problem-solving effectiveness as measured by confidence judgments. On multiple choice problems, people tend to use either a constructive matching strategy, whereby they attempt to solve a problem before looking at the response options, or a response elimination strategy, whereby they work backward from response options trying to find one that fits as a solution. Constructive matching gives rise to different cues that may enhance confidence monitoring. Experiment 1 showed that spontaneous constructive matching in nonverbal spatial reasoning problems was associated with better confidence calibration and resolution than response elimination. We manipulated strategy in Experiment 2 by requiring constructive matching and found improved monitoring. Implications for research on monitoring, overconfidence, and the association between skill and monitoring are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4301, USA. mitchum@psy.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Ainsley L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mitchum
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires