A recurring result in comparing diagnostic reasoning processes of individuals with  different levels of expertise is that experts are more flexible  in changing and modifying hypotheses and strategies.  Content of reasoning is dependent on the level of expertise as well. The present study tested whether these results, reported in the field of diagnostic reasoning, are also valid in solving configuration problems.  

Two groups of truck salesmen (n = 70) at different levels of expertise (experts: 16.8 years; novices: .9 years of training on the job) in their domain were presented  with two real-world tasks differing in complexity. Subjects were asked to solve these problems by first naming and then sequentially using information units they needed in configuring the truck.   

The results indicate that only in a very difficult task the number of used concepts and the homogenity of search differed between levels of expertise. The higher the difficulty of the task, the smaller the number and heterogenity of concepts experts used compared to novices. Contrary to previous results, breadth of search was similar  for both groups, as well as content of reasoning. 

 

Key words: Expertise -- Configuration -- Diagnostic Reasoning -- Hypothesis formation