Exploring profiles of varied types of achievement goals, emotions and digital insight problem solving through cluster analysis

Abstract

Insight experience results from an interaction between the problem and the individual solver. This study aimed to identify distinctive profiles concerning varied types of achievement goals, emotions, and insight problem solving through an online system and cluster analysis. A manipulable online insight test (Digital Insight Problem Solving Test, DIPST) was developed first. Then, an online experiment was conducted. The participants were 153 college students. Four types of achievement goals, eight types of emotions, and insight problem solving performance were included in the cluster analysis. The results revealed four distinctive profiles for insight problem solving: Achieved thinkers who are with appropriate achievement goals show a high level of performance and positive emotions; satisfied thinkers who are with appropriate achievement goals show above-average performance and a medium level of positive emotions; confused thinkers who have undifferentiated achievement goals and emotions show below-average performance; and frustrated thinkers who have conflicted achievement goals show a low level of performance and intensive negative emotions. This study develops a valid and manipulable insight test and identifies the favorable profile for great performance in insight problem solving, which contributes to the understanding of cognitive processes as well as further instruction and research regarding insight problem solving.