ABSTRACT
Existing evidence in support of analytical thinking (“nothing special”) vs. nonanalytical thinking (“special process”) accounts of insight problem solving (IPS) is critically reviewed. The focus is on correlational studies linking IPS with analytical reasoning (Gf) and working memory. We show substantial methodological flaws in numerous studies from the special-process account that reported null, or even negative, correlations and which suggest IPS and working memory/Gf to be independent cognitive mechanisms. More reliable studies, which used improved methodology and larger samples, strongly imply that IPS relies on working memory/Gf. In particular, a recent study from our lab suggests that little unique processing can be found in IPS above and beyond the standard cognitive machinery of working memory/Gf. Finally, by aggregating data gathered in our lab (five independent studies encompassing 798 people), the “true” strength of correlations between working memory/Gf and both classical and nonclassical insight tasks is approximated. Insight and analytical thinking share more than three-quarters of variance and are thus very closely linked.
