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@Uni - PS2021 > Lecture 1 - Problem Solving > Flashcards

Lecture 1 - Problem Solving Flashcards

1
Q

What is problem solving?

A
  • Purposeful
    -(goal-directed)
  • Involves cognitive processes
    -not automatic
  • Only exists when someone lacks relevant knowledge to produce immediate solution

Eysenck & Keane 2020

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2
Q

What are the two types of problems?

A

Insight Problems
Non-Insight Problems

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3
Q

What is the difference between insight and non-insight problems

A

Insight
* solutions require one-off insight
e.g. 2 string problem

Non-insight
* require incremental & sequential
problem solving
e.g. Tower of Hanoi

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4
Q

Does the brain act differently in insight and non-insight problems

A

Yes

Jung-Beeman et al. (2004)

Right anterior superior temporal gyrus was activated only
when solutions involved insight

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5
Q

What was Jung-Beeman et al. (2004) study

A
  • Remote associates test
  • Given 3 words
  • Asked to provide answer which links them
  • Then state whether it was insight ot non-insight

fence card master (post)

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6
Q

What are the two theories of problem solving

A
  • Representational change theory
  • General problem solver
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7
Q

What is representational change theory characterised by

Ohlsson (1992)

A

Insight problems
* mental representations made

Current representation used to search
memory for relevant information

A block occurs when problem
representation is inappropriate

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8
Q

How does mental representation theory work

Ohlsson (1992)

A
  • When problem is encountered
  • Mental representation is formed
  • Based on present perceptual info & prior knowledge
  • Search that representation for a solution
  • Insight occurs when a correct representation is formed
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9
Q

How can blocks be changed

Representational change theory Ohlsson(1992)

A
  1. Elaboration: new info (e.g. a hint)
  2. Constraint relaxation: extend ideas of what actions are possible
  3. Re-encoding (e.g. pliers can act as weight)
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10
Q

What is an example of representational change theory

Representational change theory Ohlsson(1992)

A

Kaplan & Simon (1990)
Mutilated chessboard problem

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11
Q

How does the mutilated chess board problem support representational change theory

Kaplan & Simon (1990)

A
  • Most pps mentally covered whole board
  • Each domino covers 1 WHITE, 1 BLACK square (re-encoding)
  • Because board has 2 less WHITE squares (re-encoding/elaboration)
  • Thus, 31 dominos can’t cover board

Re-encoding teaches you the fact dominoes cover alternate colours. Re-encoding/elaboration allows you to figure out that the board has lost 2 white squares

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12
Q

What is an example of constraint relaxation

Representational change theory Ohlsson(1992)

A

Knoblich, Ohlsson & Raney (2001)

IV = III - I
IV - III = I

Matchstick Problem

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13
Q

How does Knoblich, Ohlsson & Raney (2001) show constraint relaxation

Representational change theory Ohlsson(1992)

A
  • Pps spent more time fixating values than operators
  • Suggests that representations of problem specified the values needed to change
  • Fixations on operators increased as pps approached solution
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14
Q

Add some shit about Solution following cue & Progress Monitoring Theory from the textbook

A

MacGregor, Ormerod & Chronicle (2001)

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15
Q

What is the theory of thinking for non-insight problems

A

Newell & Simon (1972) (compscientists)

The General Problem Solver (program)

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16
Q

What is the General Problem Solver characterised by

Newell & Simon (1972) (compscientists)

A
  • The General Problem Solver (program)

If a problem can be formalised it can be solved by the program

Arrows represent operations which move through states

'Problem Space'

An operation is an action one takes to move from one state to another

17
Q

What did Newell & Simon (1972) find with humans

The General Problem Solver (program)

A
  • ‘Problem Space’ doesn’t work irl problems
  • Humans have limited ability to process/solve problem related info
  • Humans use heuristics
    -Means-ends analysis
    –Hill climbing
18
Q

What is means end analysis

Newell & Simon (1972)

A
  • Assessing diff between inital & goal state
  • Form many subgoals iot reduce diff between initial & goal state
  • Choose operators that help achieve subgoals

eg the concept of progressive overload

19
Q

What is the hill climbing heuristic

Newell & Simon (1972)

A
  • Choosing any operator that changes the current state to one that is closer or more similar to the goal state

eg if your goal is to climb the tallest hill, but you dk which is the tallest hill, just go up

You might reach peak of tallest hill, you might reach peak of a diff hil

Not necessarily a useful strat

20
Q

What is an example of the hill climbing heuristic

A

Thomas (1974) Hobbits & Orcs

21
Q

Why

A

it doesn’t make sense to go back to the left river bank

22
Q

Flaws of these two theories of problem solving

A
  • Only apply to either insight or non-insight problems
  • Not really useful irl
  • Individual differences
    -working memory capacity
  • Descriptive rather than predictive
23
Q

What is Transfer

A

Whether prior experience with problems help with solving future problems

Two kinds, positive transfer & negative transfer

24
Q

What is an example of negative transfer

A
  • Candle Problem (Duncker, 1945)
  • ‘Functional fixedness’ – box is for holding
    tacks, not candles
  • Improved performance if tack box is
    empty @ start of task
25
Q

What’s another example of negative transfer

A

Luchins (1942)

  • Well practiced strategies are often used in inappropriate situations
  • Past experience can be detrimental to performance on some tasks
26
Q

What about Positive Transfer

A
  • Research focuses on analogical problem solving
  • Use of similarities between current problem & relevant previous problems
27
Q

Analogical stuff
use the textbook to fill in these flashcards

A

Analogical

Gick & Holyoak (1980, Exp 1)

28
Q

Transfer summary

A
29
Q

Overall Summary

A

@Uni - PS2021 (11 decks)

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