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psyc 213 - cognition > chapter 12: problem solving > Flashcards

chapter 12: problem solving Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 5 steps in the problem-solving cycle

A
  1. define the problem
  2. brainstorm solutions
  3. pick solution
  4. implement solution
  5. review results
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2
Q

why is problem solving considered cyclical?

A

once you arrive at a solution, you discover a new or similar problem and have to use past info to find solution for new problem

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3
Q

name the three states in common in each problem-solving model and define operators

A

initial state
intermediate states
goal state
operators: actions that transform current problem state into another problem state

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4
Q

what are the 2 types of problems

A
  • well-defined
  • ill-defined
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5
Q

explain well-defined problems

A
  • unambiguous requirements
  • info needed to solve problem is present
  • applying algorithms
  • has constraints
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6
Q

explain ill-defined problems

A
  • ambiguous goal
  • requires added info
  • situational
  • no constraints
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7
Q

ill-defined anagrams showed greater activity in which part of the brain

A

right prefrontal cortex

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8
Q

name the two theories that describe how we approach problem solving

A
  1. solved using knowledge and trial and error (behaviorist)
  2. solved by considering problems more deeply (gestalt psyc)
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9
Q

explain the behaviorist approach to problem-solving by Thorndike

A
  • reproductive process: use of prev knowledge and what is already known
  • trial-and-error
  • Law of Effect
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10
Q

what was one phenomena the behaviorist approach could not explain

A

insight: when a solution to a problem suddenly occurs to you (a-ha moment)

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11
Q

explain the gestalt approach to problem solving

A
  • productive process: actively thinking about problem
  • restructuring and manipulating of info
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12
Q

according to the gestalt approach of problem solving, how does insight occur

A

occurs when info gets restructured and solution suddenly comes to mind

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13
Q

what are heuristics

A

rules of thumb, educated guess, or common sense judgements

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14
Q

name 5 factors that would increase the likelihood of using heuristics

A
  • when one faced with too much info
  • when time to make decision is limited
  • when decision is unimportant
  • when there’s access to very little information to use in decision making
  • when appropriate heuristic comes to mind in the same moment
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15
Q

what is the working backwards heuristic

A

solving a problem by focusing on the final result

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16
Q

what is the moravec’s paradox

A

AI solves well-defined problems well, but not ill-defined problems and simple skills

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17
Q

the problem space is a representation that includes:

A
  • initial and goals states
  • intermediate paths and operators
  • task constraints
18
Q

what are 2 common barriers that can get in the way of problem solving

A
  1. inability to ignore irrelevant info
  2. functional fixedness
19
Q

what is the brute force approach of problem solving

A

systematic algorithm that represents all the possible steps from the problem to goal state
- guaranteed to find a solution, but inefficient

20
Q

what is a downside of the brute force approach

A

combinatorial explosion: computing too many alternatives
- no solution is reached

21
Q

name 2 strategies that help prevent combinatorial explosion

A
  • hill climbing strategy
  • means end strategy
22
Q

what is the hill climbing strategy

A
  • select operation that brings you closer to goal without examining problem space
  • can lead to false outcome
  • does not require you to move away from the goal to solve it
23
Q

what is the means-ends strategy

A
  • identify sub-prob to complete goal
  • back and forth movement
  • constant eval of the difference between current and goal states
  • flexible
24
Q

what is the analogical problem solving

A

making comparisons between two situations; applying the solution from one of the situations to the other

25
Q

what is the Einstellung effect

A

bias to use only familiar methods when problem-solving
- inability to seek/use a better method
- rigid thinking and blocks

26
Q

name 2 consequences of the Einstellung effect

A
  • functional fixedness: inabliity to see beyond the most common use of a particular object
  • mental fixedness
27
Q

define creativity

A

ability to produce novel ideas that are appropriate and that are relevant to the situation

28
Q

according to Sternberg’s triarchic theory of human intelligence, name the three facets of human intelligence

A
  1. analytical intelligence (book smart)
  2. practical intelligence (street smart)
  3. creative intelligence
29
Q

define ideational fluency

A

number of ideas a person can generate about a particular topic or item
- to asses person’s creativity

30
Q

what did German & Defeyter (2000) find when testing children with the candle problem

A

no fixedness in children without pre-utilization

31
Q

differentiate between insight problem and non-insight problem

A

insight: solution occurs suddenly into consciousness
non-insight: process of consciously working through each step of a prob to arrive to solution

32
Q

what are the four features of insight

A
  • suddenness
  • ease
  • positive
  • confidence
33
Q

in which type of problem were Ps able to accurately predict how close they were to solving a problem

A

non-insight problems

34
Q

what is a Gestalt switch

A

experience of having a sudden switch in how you see something

35
Q

define mental sets and explain one problem with it

A

tendency to use solutions that have worked in the past, or tendency to respond to smt in a given or set way

  • blind to alternatives/simpler methods
36
Q

when faced with a problem, explain the processing differences between an expert and a novice

A

expert: more time analyzing prob, less time thinking about each steps
- performance becomes automatic
novice: conscious of task performance, which makes them slower

37
Q

between experts and novices, who are most likely to benefit from creative thinking

A

novices

38
Q

heuristics are to human such as … are to computers

A

algorithms

39
Q

explain the tower of hanoi task

A

move 3 discs from peg A to C so they are in the same initial order

40
Q

the tower of hanoi problem is an example of an … because it has …
1. well-defined or ill defined
2. no task constraints or task constraints

A

well-defined
task constraints

psyc 213 - cognition (13 decks)

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