LECTURE 7-PROBLEM SOLVING- thinking and reasoning

Question 1

What are the 3 aspects to problem solving?

Answer 1

1. goal directed and purposeful
2. involves controlled, conscious processing
   3- normally involves a lack of knowledge to produce an immediate solution

Question 2

What are the different types of problems?

Answer 2

Well-defined problems= all aspects of problem are clearly specified e.g. solving an anagram

Ill-defined problems= all aspects are imprecisely specified

Knowledge rich problems= can only be solved with relevant knowledge and expertise

Knowledge-lean problems=do not require knowledge- most info to solve the problem is available in initial problem statement

Question 3

what is the Gestalt approach of problem solving?

Answer 3

-has 2 types of thinking= reproductive and productive

problems that are productive can only be solved via insight. This is a light bulb moment (sudden restructuring of a problem)

you can facilitate insight by using hints to increase the number of solutions produced on insight problems

Question 4

Gestalt approach- a study on hinting

Answer 4

Thomas and Lleras (2009) ppts asked to solve pendulum problem but were given regular exercise breaks. One group break included swinging arms and the other included stretching arms. Findings- the task relevant exercise break ppts more likely to solve the problem. showing hints can be effective even without conscious awareness of task relevance.

Question 5

what are the 4 ways to facilitate insight?

Answer 5

1=hinting

2= incubation (put the problem a side for some time then come back to it- works, as the subconscious mind continues to work and over this incubation time we forget our previously failed strategies so become more open minded to solve)

3= changing the problem representation ( use constraint relaxation= inhibit what we think the solution is/ use re coding= reinterpret aspects of the problem representation/ use elaboration= new problem info is added to the representation

4= past experiences= increase out ability to solve problems.
HOWEVER past experiences can hinder insight by functional fixedness ( mistakenly assume a given object has a limited number of uses), and mental set (tendency to use familiar problem solving strategies used in the past)

Question 6

Gestalt psychology- Newell and Simon 1972

Answer 6

Newell and Simon say we have limited STM capacity and believe processing is serial

to solve problems they say we need to use lean problems
- using heuristics to help= noting difference between current problem and goal, making us select a mental operator that permits attainment of the sub goal

and use cognitive misers= someone who is typically economical with their time and effort on tasks when is comes to thinking.

Question 7

What is Analogical problem solving?

Answer 7

solving problems using analogies- this is very important in daily life, looking at similarities between current and previous problems.

There are 3 types of similarity between problems-
1= superficial = solution irrelevant details
2= structural= casual relation among some parts of the main components are shared
3= procedural=common procedures of how you get to the solution, turning the solution principle into concrete operation

Question 8

what is the information reduction hypothesis

Answer 8

efficient and selective allocation of attention

Question 9

holistic model hypothesis

Answer 9

experts extract info from a wider area with each fixation