Chapter 12: Problem Solving Flashcards
What is a problem
Occurs when there’s an obstacle between a present state and a goal which isn’t easy to solve
What does problem solving entail
How people represent a problem in their minds:
How solving a problem involves a reorganization or restructuring of representation:
Restructuring is the process of changing a problems representation.
Insight is the sudden realization of a problems solution.
What obstacles are there to problem solving
Fixation: people’s tendency to focus on a specific characteristic of the problem that keeps them from arriving at a solution.
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Functional fixedness: focusing solely on familiar functions or uses of an object
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Candle problem: shows how objects are unable to been seen as objects of different functions to solve problems
Two string problem: }mental set which Is a preconceived idea about how to approach a problem determined by a person’s experience or what has worked in the past.
Water jug problem: shows that if a successful solution is learned it can prevent the use of more efficient solutions
Explain the info processing approach to problem solving as a search process
Tower of Hanoi problem:
Initial state- condition at the beginning of the problem
Goal state- the solution of the problem
Operators: actions that take the problem from one state to another.
Problem space: initial state goal state and possible intermediate states for a particular problem.
Intermediate states: condition after each step is made towards solving a problem
Means end analysis: a way of solving a problem in which the goal is to reduce the difference between the initial and goal states
Subgoal: small goals that help create intermediate states that are closer to the goal.
What are analogies and how are they used in problem solving
Analogy: using the solution to a similar problem to guide solution of a new problem which also refers to analogical problem solving
Analogical transfer is the ability to transfer from one problem to another.
- Target problem is the problem the participant is trying to solve
- Source problem is a similar type of problem in the recent past that shows a way to solve the target problem.
Dunckers Radiation problem shows that noticing: where there is an analogous relationship between source and target problem
Mapping: correspondence between source story and target problem
Applying: the mapping to generate parallel solution to target problem.
What is analogical encoding
Is the process by which 2 problems are compared and similarities between them are determined.
How do experts solve problems
They possess more and better structured knowledge about their fields.
Experts spend more time analysing problems
What is creative problem solving
Creativity is the producing of original answers or ability to come up with multiple solution to a problem.
Divergent thinking is open ended thinking involving a large array of potential solutions
What is the process of creative problem solving
- problem generation
- problem formulation
- problem solving
- solution implementation
Group brainstorming: encouraging people to freely express ideas that might be useful in solving certain problem.
Creative cognition.
