Task difficulty moderated the detrimental effect of fixation, which was stronger for easier compared to harder tasks¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The interaction of difficulty with fixation was significant and positive: fixation's detrimental effect on task success was stronger for tasks with a lower difficulty level. → Guo 2025 q3 i? Task difficulty level also moderated the fixation effect on ideal manipulation, with the detrimental effect stronger for lower-difficulty tasks. → Guo 2025 (2)

Evidence¶

Guo 2025¶

Guo, J.; Bai, H.; Long, X.; Su, X.; Pang, W. (2025). The process of tool innovation in young children: An attempt to bridge the Gestalt and the perception-action theories. Learning and Instruction, 99, article 102182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2025.102182

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Multilevel logistic regression Model 4 adding fixation-by-difficulty and flexibility-by-difficulty interactions improved fit over Model 3 (Δdeviance(2) = 16.39, p < 0.001) for task success.

"the interaction of difficulty with fixation was significant and positive, indicating that the detrimental effect of fixation on task success was stronger for tasks with a lower difficulty level."

Guo 2025 (2)¶

Guo, J.; Bai, H.; Long, X.; Su, X.; Pang, W. (2025). The process of tool innovation in young children: An attempt to bridge the Gestalt and the perception-action theories. Learning and Instruction, 99, article 102182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2025.102182

q3 · i? · design · r2

In the parallel ideal-manipulation analyses, difficulty again moderated fixation, with the detrimental effect stronger on easier tasks.

"Besides, task difficulty level again moderated the effect of fixation, indicating that the detrimental effect of fixation on ideal manipulation was stronger for tasks with a lower difficulty level."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Feature use related to a slight increase in multiple choice accuracy, larger for lower-Lexile students and for easier articles — related
• Task difficulty moderated the facilitating effect of flexibility on ideal manipulation only, with the effect more salient for harder tasks — related
• The nine new tool innovation tasks showed varied difficulty levels, with task success rates ranging from 33% to 94% and ideal manipulation rates from 24% to 91% — related