The figural problem solving and problem finding of professional and semiprofessional artists and nonartists

Abstract

The processes of finding a solution to a stated problem and those employed in formulating a problem prior to determining a solution strategy are implied by the behaviors observed in the manipulation of figural symbol systems. Sixty adult participants agreed to be videotaped while given two measures of spatial visualization, a figural problem‐solving activity, and two games which required defining a problem prior to producing a result. When groups, defined by their experience in producing ideas in art, were compared, traditional quantitative measures of performance yielded few significant differences. However, multivariate analyses of the observed qualitative variables resulted in significant differences. Theoretical and educational implications are discussed.