abstract:The candle problem or candle task, also known as Duncker's candle problem, is a cognitive performance test, measuring the influence of functional fixedness on a participant's problem solving capabilities. The test was created by Gestalt psychologist Karl Duncker and published posthumously in 1945.
ThisDunckercandleproblem, as it is known, is consideredagoodtest of creativitybecauseitrequiresyou to imaginesomething being used for a purposequitedifferent from itsusual one.