Parameters of aha-experience depending on the solution time and feedback

Abstract

The current study is aimed to examine the parameters of aha-experience in case of differing solution time and type of feedback (independent solution / solution given by an experimenter / no feedback). The study participants had to solve five insight problems and to describe the aspects of aha-experience. One problem was given with no feedback, representing the standard solution time for a participant. Some of the further problems were interrupted after half of a participant's standard time, and some – after the standard time net of ten seconds. Participants were given the answers to some of the problems whereas other problems remained without feedback. Time of interruption and feedback conditions were mixed. Two identical experiments were carried out: offline and online. Results showed the highest estimates of aha-experience in case of an independent solution, and the lowest – when the solution process was interrupted with no feedback given. Time of interruption and its combined effect with the feedback condition did not affect participants' scores. There are no significant differences between the experimental data in offline and online. Thus, aha-experience is a complex reaction, which reflects both the production of an answer and the effort made in order to solve the problem. Also, conducting experiments online does not reduce the quality of the experimental procedure.