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Kaufmann (1979) identified two cognitive problem-solving styles among a group of Norwegian secondary school subjects: Assimilators display a tendency to follow established principles in attacking a problem, and explorers tend to seek out novel solutions, even when established solutions are adequate. In the present study, we used 171 American college students to examine the cross-cultural generality of Kaufmann's findings and to explore empirically the similarity between Kaufmann's distinction and Kirton's (1976) description of adaptors and innovators. Kaufmann's findings were replicated, but no relation was found between Kaufmann's and Kirton's schemas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]