Limitations of Procedures for Improving Group Problem Solving

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Abstract
These experiments were designed to test whether the quality of group problem solving could be improved by instructing groups to follow certain procedures. 192 groups of 2 male and 1 female S each solved Maier's Sewing Room Case under 4 different experimental conditions: I—no instructions regarding processes or procedures to follow; II—instructions for carrying out idea-evaluation in two separate stages; III—instructions requesting diagnosis and factual support for each solution generated; and IV—instructions requiring locating obstacles before generating solutions. The results show limited support for the value of such instructions. These marginally significant results were due to a relatively small number of groups conforming to the experimental manipulation rather than to the inadequacy of the principles on which the manipulations were based. Some directed training in use of problem-solving principles, rather than a mere knowledge of them, seems to be essential in achieving high qualiry solutions. Idea-evaluation seems to suffer in group problem solving. Brainstorming, which stresses idea-getting, has its limitations because it leaves the evaluation to outside judges.