Chapter 12: Problem Solving Flashcards
What are features
specific reasoning processes that can be acquired
Features improve with what kind of practice
- deliberate
What is metacognition
our awareness of our own mental processes
We can look at problems and quickly decide whether it can be retrieved from memory or has to be solved effortfully, or switch between the 2 using…
metacognition
What is an analogy
problem solving is enhanced by knowing the solution to a similar problem
What does Analogical transfer refer to
the ability to transfer a solution from one problem to the next
Does problem solving use principles that are domain-specific or not
not
Problem solving requires _______?
Intelligence
- The ability to derive general principles and apply it in other domains
Analogies only helps those who notice ______ between the conditions
similarity
What is the role of analogy in problem solving. Give an example of your own.
problem solving is enhanced by knowing the solution to a similar problem
- car stuck in mud vs car stuck in snow
What is the Gestalt Approach
Restructuring a problem to find a solution
What are the two aspects to problem solving (Gestalt)
- problem representation
2. insight
What is problem representation
how a problem is represented in the mind
- changing the representation of a problem can help arrive at solutions (restructuring)
What is insight in the gestalt approach
the sudden emergence of a solution
What is restructuring
changing the representation of a problem can help arrive at solutions
What is the result of insight
restructuring
What are insightful solutions
- participants are not aware they are getting closer to a solution
What is functional fixedness
- the fixation on the primary function of an object
- inability to think of novel uses
How can we fix fixedness
can be reduced by restructuring the problem
How does functional fixedness affect problem solving. Is functional fixedness always an impediment to problem solving?
Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that negatively affects a person’s ability to problem-solve and innovate. The bias causes a person to look at a problem in only one specific way and it can prevent them from developing effective solutions to their challenge.
What is a mental set
preconceived notion of how to solve a problem
- based on past experiences
What is the information-processing approach
- problem solving as a search process
- get from initial to the goal
One way to find the solution is to reduce the difference between initial and goal state by creating
subgoals
What are the features of experts (5)
- experts have more knowledge about the field
- they organize knowledge differently (more visualizations)
- spend more time analyzing problems and less time implementing solutions
- higher automatization of subprocesses
- better metacognition
What may be the characteristics of “expert” students.
- resourceful and knowledgeable
- strategic
- goal oriented
what is creativity
- producing something that is original and worthwhile
Does creativity use divergent or convergent thinking
divergent thinking
(more than one correct answer)
many solutions to a problem
what is incubation and what brain network is it associated with
putting aside a problem without thinking about it
- Works by reducing the effects of negative transfer, functional fixedness, and mental set
- DMN
How is creativity related to generating ideas
Creative people score highly on tests of divergent thinking
- lots of ideas
Creativity is related to commitment how?
Creative individuals work long and hard in their area of interest
- Learn about previous works and ideas and build on/diverge from it to create something new
What is intrinsic motivation
being motivated by curiosity or interest or personal satisfaction
What is extrinsic motivation
being motivated by external rewards (money, fame)
What are the personality characteristics of a creative person (5)
- open to new experiences
- self- confidence
- dominant/hostile
- unconventional
- sometimes abandon/ neglect or exploit relations
What brain networks are involved in creativity
DMN
Executive control network
Why can frontal lobe lesion patients solve some problems faster
Because there is less frontal-based filtering of information, therefore reduced functional fixedness
The DMN and Mind wandering are associated with what? why?
creativity
- DMN activity increases during mind wandering
DMN activity during incubation may result in ?
insightful problem solving and creativity
