In the late 1970’s, researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a series of experiments to better understand Duncker’s classic “Radiation Problem.” Analogies had been demonstrated to assist subjects in the formulation of insights, “provided they were given a hint to use the story to help solve the problem.” What’s fascinating though, is that, “when no hint to consider the (analogy) was given, frequency of (total) solutions decreased markedly.”

Just how much did being given a hint help? As Dave Epstein tells in his excellent Range, “Only about 10% of people solve Duncker's Radiation Problem initially. Presented with both of the radiation problem and the (first analogy), about 30% solve it and save the patient. Given both of those plus the (second analogy), half solve it… Given (both analogies) and then told to use them to help solve the radiation problem, 80% save the patient.”

It makes sense that our odds of solving a very difficult problem are dramatically improved by leveraging analogies. But what’s wild is, many people miss the critical connection unless they’re explicitly told to look for one!

The practical takeaway: always be on the lookout. If you’ve got a question in mind*, actively mine the world and circumstances around you, expecting them to supply solutions. Entertaining the possibility of connection.

Relevance may not always be there — in fact, often is not — but by looking for connections, you increase the odds of discovering a connection and breaking through when one does in fact exist.

*Richard Feynman said, “You have to keep a dozen of your favorite problems constantly present in your mind… Every time you hear a new trick or a new result, test it against each of your twelve problems to see whether it helps. Every once in a while, there will be a hit, and people will say, ‘How did he do it? He must be a genius!’”

Related: Explore Analogies
Related: Go Wander

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