6.1 problem solving

Question 1

thinking

Answer 1

The processing of information to solve problems, reason, and make judgments and decisions.

Question 2

well-defined problem

Answer 2

A problem with clear specifications of the start state, goal state, and the processes for reaching the goal state.

Question 3

ill-defined problem

Answer 3

A problem lacking clear specification of either the start state, goal state, or the processes for reaching the goal state.

Question 4

fixation

Answer 4

the inability to create a new interpretation of a problem.

Question 5

functional fixedness

Answer 5

The inability to see that an object can have a function other than its typical one in solving a problem.

Question 6

mental set

Answer 6

The tendency to use previously successful
problem-solving strategies without considering others that are more appropriate for the current problem.

Question 7

insight

Answer 7

A new way to interpret a problem that immediately yields the solution.

Question 8

algorithm

Answer 8

A step-by-step
problem-solving procedure that guarantees a correct answer to a problem.

Question 9

heuristic

Answer 9

A problem-solving strategy that seems reasonable given one’s past experience with solving problems, especially similar problems, but does not guarantee a correct answer to a problem.

Question 10

anchoring and adjustment heuristic

Answer 10

A heuristic for estimation problems in which one uses his or her initial estimate as an anchor estimate and then adjusts the anchor up or down (often insufficiently).

Question 11

working backward heuristic

Answer 11

A problem-solving heuristic in which one attempts to solve a problem by working from the goal state back to the start state.

Question 12

means–end analysis heuristic

Answer 12

A problem-solving heuristic in which the distance to the goal state is decreased systematically by breaking the problem down into subgoals and achieving these subgoals.