Problem 7 - Solving And Creativity Flashcards
1
Q
Problem solving strategies: algorithm
A
- Always produces a solution to a problem.
- Exhaustive search: try all possible answers.
- Inefficient and unsophisticated.
2
Q
Heuristics: the analogy approach
A
- used everyday
- you employ a solution to a similar, early problem to help you solve the new problem
- anaphoric reference: connects an anaphor with its referent
3
Q
Structure of the analogy approach
A
- problem isomorphism: set of problems that have the same underlying structures and solutions but different specific details.
- people focus on superficial content rather than underlying meaning (abstract)
- failure to transfer knowledge (when dressed up in superficially different cover stories)
- those with limited problem-solving skills and metacognitive abilities have difficulty using analogies
4
Q
Conditions under transfer (analogy approach)
A
- diagrams and general principle statements did not help to apply analogies.
- relating and reading two analogous stories helps transfer of knowledge.
- connections between two different problems => schema induction
5
Q
Schemas (analogy approach)
A
- mental representation of facts and procedures that apply to a specific object/situation
- mental representation of the underlying principle that multiple problems share.
- schemas used to solve analogous problems.
Steps:
1. Noticing relationship between two problems. (Failure occurs often here)
2. Mapping key elements
3. Schema development
6
Q
Surface vs structural features (analogy approach)
A
- ability to notice, map and develop schemata depends on type of similarity.
- surface features: specific elements (if problems share these, part of the problem looks similar)
- structural features: underlying relationships (if structurally similar, different on the surface)
- Verbalizing problems => noticing structural features.
- kinesthetic information: information arises from body movement can help encode structural features.
7
Q
Factors for appropriate use of analogies
A
- people often overcome context and use analogies appropriately.
- solving structurally similar problems before tackling the target problem is easier.
8
Q
Problem solution: dual processes revisited (analogy approach)
A
- involving system 1 and 2 processing
- preferred method can depend not only on the situation but also on your level of knowledge and experience
9
Q
The means-ends heuristic
A
- You divide the problem into a number of subproblems.
- You reduce the difference between initial state and goal state for each of the subproblems.
- most effective and flexible problem-solving strategies
10
Q
Research on the means-ends heuristic
A
- WM is especially active when planning one of these movement sequence within subproblems
- people are reluctant to move away from goal state when they are required to do so.
11
Q
The hill-climbing heuristic
A
- straightforward strategy
- useful when not enough information about alternatives - you see immediate next step
- can lead you astray
- drawback: consistently choose the alternative that appears to lead most directly to the goal.
- short-term goals/solutions
12
Q
Individual differences: cross-national comparisons in problem solving strategies
A
Different cultures emphasize different aspects (planning is for US, Germany for ex)
13
Q
Ill-structured problems and the role of insight
A
- they do not have well defined problem spaces
- difficulty constructing appropriate mental representations for modeling these problems and their solutions.
- domain knowledge and justification skills are important.
- cognitive and affective factors (attitudes and regulation) are also important.
14
Q
Insight problems
A
- distinctive and sometimes sudden
- looking at the problem in a different way.
- involves reconceptualizing a problem in a new way.
- involves detecting and combining relevant old and new information for a novel view.
15
Q
Early gestaltist views (insight problems)
A
- perceive the problem as a whole
- productive thinking: go beyond the bounds of existing associations.
- reproductive thinking: existing associations involving what is already known
