Chapter 12: Problem Solving

Question 1

What are features

Answer 1

specific reasoning processes that can be acquired

Question 2

Features improve with what kind of practice

Answer 2

• deliberate

Question 3

What is metacognition

Answer 3

our awareness of our own mental processes

Question 4

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…

Answer 4

metacognition

Question 5

What is an analogy

Answer 5

problem solving is enhanced by knowing the solution to a similar problem

Question 6

What does Analogical transfer refer to

Answer 6

the ability to transfer a solution from one problem to the next

Question 7

Does problem solving use principles that are domain-specific or not

Answer 7

not

Question 8

Problem solving requires _______?

Answer 8

Intelligence

- The ability to derive general principles and apply it in other domains

Question 9

Analogies only helps those who notice ______ between the conditions

Answer 9

similarity

Question 10

What is the role of analogy in problem solving. Give an example of your own.

Answer 10

problem solving is enhanced by knowing the solution to a similar problem
- car stuck in mud vs car stuck in snow

Question 11

What is the Gestalt Approach

Answer 11

Restructuring a problem to find a solution

Question 12

What are the two aspects to problem solving (Gestalt)

Answer 12

1. problem representation

2. insight

Question 13

What is problem representation

Answer 13

how a problem is represented in the mind

- changing the representation of a problem can help arrive at solutions (restructuring)

Question 14

What is insight in the gestalt approach

Answer 14

the sudden emergence of a solution

Question 15

What is restructuring

Answer 15

changing the representation of a problem can help arrive at solutions

Question 16

What is the result of insight

Answer 16

restructuring

Question 17

What are insightful solutions

Answer 17

• participants are not aware they are getting closer to a solution

Question 18

What is functional fixedness

Answer 18

• the fixation on the primary function of an object

- inability to think of novel uses

Question 19

How can we fix fixedness

Answer 19

can be reduced by restructuring the problem

Question 20

How does functional fixedness affect problem solving. Is functional fixedness always an impediment to problem solving?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

What is a mental set

Answer 21

preconceived notion of how to solve a problem

- based on past experiences

Question 22

What is the information-processing approach

Answer 22

• problem solving as a search process

- get from initial to the goal

Question 23

One way to find the solution is to reduce the difference between initial and goal state by creating

Answer 23

subgoals

Question 24

What are the features of experts (5)

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

What may be the characteristics of “expert” students.

Answer 25

• resourceful and knowledgeable
• strategic
• goal oriented

Question 26

what is creativity

Answer 26

• producing something that is original and worthwhile

Question 27

Does creativity use divergent or convergent thinking

Answer 27

divergent thinking
(more than one correct answer)
many solutions to a problem

Question 28

what is incubation and what brain network is it associated with

Answer 28

putting aside a problem without thinking about it

• Works by reducing the effects of negative transfer, functional fixedness, and mental set
• DMN

Question 29

How is creativity related to generating ideas

Answer 29

Creative people score highly on tests of divergent thinking

- lots of ideas

Question 30

Creativity is related to commitment how?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What is intrinsic motivation

Answer 31

being motivated by curiosity or interest or personal satisfaction

Question 32

What is extrinsic motivation

Answer 32

being motivated by external rewards (money, fame)

Question 33

What are the personality characteristics of a creative person (5)

Answer 33

• open to new experiences
• self- confidence
• dominant/hostile
• unconventional
• sometimes abandon/ neglect or exploit relations

Question 34

What brain networks are involved in creativity

Answer 34

DMN

Executive control network

Question 35

Why can frontal lobe lesion patients solve some problems faster

Answer 35

Because there is less frontal-based filtering of information, therefore reduced functional fixedness

Question 36

The DMN and Mind wandering are associated with what? why?

Answer 36

creativity

- DMN activity increases during mind wandering

Question 37

DMN activity during incubation may result in ?

Answer 37

insightful problem solving and creativity