Human Performance on Hard Non-Euclidean Graph Problems: Vertex Cover
Date
2012
Authors
Carruthers, Sarah
Stege, Ulrike
Masson, Michael
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Journal of Problem Solving
Abstract
Recent studies on a computationally hard visual optimization problem, the Traveling
Salesperson Problem (TSP), indicate that humans are capable of finding close to optimal
solutions in near-linear time. The current study is a preliminary step in investigating
human performance on another hard problem, the Minimum Vertex Cover Problem, in
which solvers attempt to find a smallest set of vertices that ensures that every edge in
an undirected graph is incident with at least one of the selected vertices. We identify appropriate
measures of performance, examine features of problem instances that impact
performance, and describe strategies typically employed by participants to solve instances
of the Vertex Cover problem.
Description
Keywords
computational complexity, vertex cover, human performance
Citation
Carruthers, S., Masson, M. E. J., & Stege, U. (2012). Human Performance on Hard Non- Euclidean Graph Problems: Vertex Cover. The Journal of Problem Solving, 5(1), 1-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/1932-6246.1142.