For example, it could be expected that this lower-level burden would drain cognitive "energy" from higher functions trying to solve the mathematical problem.
In observing how people take tests, I've seen that people first 'extract' the information from the question and then move on to deriving its answer. Your point is valid, however.
Yes, I think that theory goes that, since you "fired up" the higher-level cognitive "engine" of your mind, you might as well use it to solve the problem. Perhaps it's a sunk-cost type of thinking, where you feel that you should justify your efforts in understanding the problem by solving the problem properly. Or, perhaps the lower-level, less intelligent mind agents are not triggered by the slower process of understanding the problem.
I'm reading Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow and I've stopped on this:
This seems like an important finding, but I can't find references in the book (Kindle) or on the Web. Does anybody know any real evidence for this claim? EDIT: I found the original paper
Do you think that people could behave rationally with such a simple intervention?
simple intro to CRT
EDIT: fixed spelling in title