ch. 12 - problem-solving & reasoning

Question 1

problem

Answer 1

an obstacle between a present state and a goal

-not immediately obvious

Question 2

insight

Answer 2

sudden realization of a problem’s solution

• aha moment!
  ex: triangle prob, chain prob

Question 3

noninsight

Answer 3

problems solved gradually

ex: algebra

Question 4

fixation

Answer 4

people’s tendency to focus on a specific

Question 5

functional fixedness

Answer 5

restricting use of an object to its familiar functions

Question 6

candle problem

Answer 6

seeing boxes as containers inhibited using them as supports

Question 7

mental set

Answer 7

preconceived notion about how to approach a problem

based on a person’s past experience

• water jug problem: given mental set inhibited participants from using simpler solution

Question 8

initial state

Answer 8

conditions at the beginning of the problem

Question 9

intermediate state(s)

Answer 9

conditions after each step is made toward solving a problem

Question 10

goal state

Answer 10

solution to the problem

Question 11

means-end analysis

Answer 11

reduce differences between initial and goal states

Question 12

operators

Answer 12

rules specify which moves are allowed and which are not

Question 13

multilated checkerboard problem

Answer 13

question: if we eliminate 2 corners of the checkerboard, can we now cover the remaining squares with 31 dominos

Question 14

analogical problem solving

Answer 14

using the solution to a similar problem to guide solution of a new problem

Question 15

analogical transfer

Answer 15

the transfer from one problem to another

target prob - prob the subject is trying to solve

source prob - another prob that shares some similarities with the target prob

Question 16

analogy

Answer 16

making a comparison in order to show a similarity between two different things

Question 17

analogical paradox

Answer 17

people find it difficult to apply analogies in the laboratory but people routinely use analogies in the real-world setting

Question 18

analogical encoding

Answer 18

two props are compared and similarities between them are determined

Question 19

in vivo problem solving

Answer 19

people are observed to determine how they solve props in the real world

advantage - natural setting
disadvantage - time-consuming, can’t isolate and control variables

Question 20

creative cognition

Answer 20

techniques to train people to think creatively

Question 21

preinventive forms

Answer 21

ideas that precede creation of finished creative product

Question 22

experts

Answer 22

person who devoted a large time to the field

• solves props in their field faster and with a higher success rate than beginners

Question 23

divergent thinking

Answer 23

open-ended; large number of potential “solutions”

Question 24

group brainstorming

Answer 24

encourage people to freely express ideas that might be useful in solving a particular problem

Question 25

latent inhibition

Answer 25

the capacity to screen out stimuli that are considered irrelevant