What makes an expert: FSU 'Scrabble Skill' Study
Posted on Sunday, August 08 @ 12:09:13 EDT
Topic: The Brain
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I responded to the paper survey (I hope hundreds did) and as well participated in the experimental portion of the study -- Roy Roring told me they fit in about 20 subjects for the 2-hour sessions while in New Orleans.
Here is their original précis:
"A team of researchers from Florida State University will be
conducting a study of Scrabble skill during the 2004 NSC in New
Orleans. Participants will be asked to solve a variety of Scrabble
problems and complete a brief cognitive test battery. Participants
will receive $50 for completing the study. Participants will also
have the opportunity to win a $50 gift certificate to the Word Gear
store for completing and returning a mail-back survey about
Scrabble-related activities and experience."
As they related it to me, many formal studies have been done attempting to define chess 'expertise' in academic cognitive terms, and even bridge and poker expertise, but never Scrabble.
The experimental session was fascinating. It was divided into two hours, the first focused on Scrabble problems, and the second a battery of memory/vocabulary/linguistic tests.
I was surprised the second half did not include at least one battery designed to measure numeric or quantitative aptitude.
I was terribly impressed with the amount of work this team of researchers had put into the study.
First I was coached in what it meant to give the kind of verbal feedback they wanted -- a way of thinking aloud while solving the problems that would give them the most transparent view of my thought processes (such as they were, on Wednesday night :-)
Each position was presented on full-size mounted color xeroxes, and I was given an actual rack with tiles to manipulate, and a score ... in the case of one endgame, I was also given complete tracking information.
The positions were well chosen... several had clear-cut 'right' answers (at least to me) but several others (again, at least to me) were real stumpers. But in five minutes one did have to make a decision.
In at least two cases I found the process of thinking aloud led me to a decision that -- while I was sure it was right -- may well NOT have been the play I would have made in a tournament situation. This tells me that I have the wherewithal to tackle interesting positions, if only I would do so with some discipline. In real life, I so often make the play I KNOW I shouldn't, while some inner voice cries, No! No! Nooo!
When the study is complete -- the data analyzed and conclusions published -- I'll make a link to the PDF available here -- as well as open a Forum thread to discuss its conclusions.
Were you in the study too? Reply with your impressions in a comment here.
(The researchers request that we not divulge specifics of the Scrabble problems or the cognitive battery, while they may still use them on additional subjects.)
-John Van Pelt
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Re: FSU 'Scrabble Skill' Study (Score: 2, Informative)
by john on Wednesday, August 16 @ 11:21:13 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | I got an update from Roy Roring the other day -- they expect the paper to come out in 2007. I'll keep this site posted. |
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