12. problem solving

Question 1

whats a problem space

Answer 1

consistes of variaous states of the problem

Question 2

Whats a problem state

Answer 2

a representation of the problem in some degree of solution

Question 3

whats an operator

Answer 3

an action that will transform the probkem state into another problem state

Question 4

what defines the problem space

Answer 4

what operators are available

Question 5

what determines the path taken

Answer 5

which opoerator the problem solver chooses

Question 6

three ways to aquire operators

Answer 6

discovery

direct instruciton

analogy

Question 7

operator aquisition by analogy

Answer 7

the process by which a problem solver maps the solution from one problem into the solution for another

relies on structural similarities of problem

Question 8

how do we select oporators

Answer 8

three criteria

• back up avoidance
• difference reduction
• means-ends analysis

Question 9

define operator seletioon back up avoidance

Answer 9

tendency in problem solving to avoid operators that take one back to a state already visited

attempt to avoid unnecessary duplication of parts in the problem space

Question 10

how do you apply operator selection difference reduction

Answer 10

tendency to select operators that eliminate a difference between current state and goal state

useful bit not always optimal

Question 11

how do you fail to apply operator selection by difference reduction

Answer 11

considers only whether the next step is an improvement and not whether larger plan will work

experience difficulty when correct solution involves increasing the difference between current and goal state

Question 12

means-end analysis fo operator selection

Answer 12

creates a new subgoal to enable an operator to aply
- an operator is not abandoned even it it cannot be applied immediately

identifies biggest difference between current state and goal state and try to eliminate it first

Question 13

which operator selection tool is used fo rthe tower of hanoi

Answer 13

many apply differnce reduction first but end up using means-end analysis

Question 14

what is problem representation

Answer 14

how states of a problem are represented has a significant effect

successful problem solving depends on representing in problems in such a way that appropriate operators can apply

Question 15

how does inappropriate problem representation effect our problem solving ability

Answer 15

prevents us from using proper analogy

choice of examples tend to be guided by superficial similarities

Question 16

what is functional fixedness

Answer 16

tendency to represent objects as serving conventional problem solving functions thus failing to see that they can serve novel functions

a problem becomes difficult when it requires representing an objects novel function

Question 17

how does funcitonal fixedness effect our prblem solving ability

Answer 17

increased difficulty from problems due to functional fixedness demonstrates that how to represent a problem has a significant influence on operator selection

Question 18

what are set effects

Answer 18

biasing of a solution to a problem as a result of past experiences in soling that kidn of problem

often observed when the knowledge relevant to a particular type of problem solution is strengthened

Question 19

incubation effects…

Answer 19

soemtimes solutions to a particular problem come easier after a period of time in which one has ignored trying to solve the problem

occur when inapropiate strategies are forgotten

Question 20

insight problems

Answer 20

problems where peopel are not aware that they are close to a solution

poeple often do not recognise what is critical for solving the (insight) problems until they see the final solution