Reasoning, Problem Solving, and Intelligence.

Abstract : This report reviews the psychological literature at the interface of reasoning, problem solving, and intelligence. It begins a discussion of some of the questions a theory of reasoning or problem solving should address, and with some suggestions as to how these questions can be addressed empirically. Next, the literature on reasoning and intelligence is reviewed. This review is divided into two parts, one on induction and one on deduction; the former part pays particular attention to the literature on analogies, the latter part to the literature on linear syllogisms. Then, the literature on problem solving and intelligence is reviewed --first on problems with well-defined solution spaces. The first part pays particular attention to the literature on the missionaries and cannibals problem, the latter part to the literature on the hatrack problem.