Adams Task

Background

The Adams Task, also referred to as the 'Grid Pattern Task', is an experimental problem-solving paradigm to study people's tendency to overlook subtractive transformations in favor of additive transformations even when the former would result in simpler and faster solutions. The task was published by Gabrielle Adams and colleagues in 2021.

In the Adams Task, participants are given digital 10x10 grids split into four quadrants. The 100 grid boxes are either white or green resulting in asymmetrical patterns. The task is to turn the asymmetrical pattern into a symmetrical one (symmetrical in the horizontal and vertical direction) with the fewest changes possible. Grid colors can be turned on ('green') and turned off ('white') by selecting them. The starting patterns are manipulated in such a way that they almost appear symmetrical except for a few additional green-colored boxes clustered in one of the four quadrants. The fastest changes to achieve complete symmetry is to delete (aka 'subtract') those additional green boxes by turning them white.

Medical analysts like Siva Mohan in 2026 have used the findings to investigate failures in clinical environments. They argue, for example, that doctors and clinical systems are biased towards adding treatments and/or medication and often overlook the possible benefits of subtracting them instead.

Task Procedure

The Millisecond implementation of the Adams Task uses the three practice and one main test pattern published in Adams et al (2021). The implementation allows for adding additional patterns. Participants first learn how to turn on ('green') and turn off ('white') the grid colors before working on three initial practice problems. All three practice problems present grid patterns that have superior subtractive transformation solutions. People can subtract the extra green boxes, that are always clustered in the same quadrant, or recreate the same grid pattern in the other three quadrants by adding colorful boxes. No performance feedback is provided for the practice trials. After completion of the practice problems, participants receive one final test problem. Like the practice problems, the test problem has a superior subtractive solution but can be solved by adding additional colored boxes to achieve complete symmetry.

What it Measures

The Adams Task is a measure of subtractive problem solving

Psychological domains

• Planning: Requires generating and maintaining a plan while looking ahead multiple steps
• Problem-Solving, Strategic Thinking: Identifying the most efficient solution ahead of time rather than through trial-and-error
• Non-Verbal Problem Solving: Ability to solve problems devoid of verbal information
• Cognitive Flexibility: Adjusting plans when initial strategies fail

Main Performance Metrics

• Performance Accuracy: a binary performance measure of symmetry success and minimum number of clicks made; main measure of successful subtraction use
• Symmetry Success: a binary performance measure of symmetry achievement; measure of task focus
• Additive Clicks: the number of additive clicks made, measure of 'addition' focus
• Subtractive Clicks: the number of subtractive clicks made, measure of 'subtraction' focus

Psychiatric Conditions

The Adams Task has primarily been used in academic research with non-clinical populations.

References

Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Adams Task.

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Adams, G.S., Converse, B.A., Hales, A.H. et al. (2021). People systematically overlook subtractive changes. Nature 592, 258–261. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03380-y

Meyvis, T., & Yoon, H. (2021). Adding is favoured over subtracting in problem solving. Nature (London), 592(7853), 189–190. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-00592-0

Rousseau, D. M. (2021). What if Marie Kondo Wrote an Organizational Change Book? Making Space for Subtractive Change. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 57(4), 428–435. https://doi.org/10.1177/00218863211032747

Mohan, S. (2026, June 16). Why physicians struggle to stop prescribing, even to the detriment of patients. Medical Economics, Volume 103, Issue 6