Problem Solving Flashcards
Major Aspects of Problem Solving.
- It is goal-directed
- It involves controlled processes and is not totally reliant on ‘automatic’ processes
- A problem exists when someone lacks the relevant knowledge to produce an immediate solution.
What is the behaviourist approach to problem-solving?
The approach is only concerned with observable stimulus-response behaviours and states all behaviours are learned through interaction with the environment.
“trial-and-error” and “reproduction of previously learned responses”
Define the Law of Effect?
responses that are closely followed (‘recency’) by gaining a reward, become associated with the situation and are more likely to be repeated. Negative consequences can lead to weakened association.
Criticisms of the Behaviourist Approach to Problem Solving
- Conformity: Outcomes often conformist. (free thinkers?)
- Neglects cognitive (thinking) processes: Potentially limiting learning
- Agency of learning is external: Learners not encouraged to act independently & make their own choices during learning.
What is reproductive thinking?
Reproductive thinking involves the systematic reuse of previous experiences.
- Distinguished by Gestaltists
What is productive thinking?
Involves a novel restructuring of the problem and is more complex.
==Insight.
What did Ohlsson’s (1992) representational change theory suggest?
Suggests we need to change the problem representation for insight to occur.
What are the 3 ways Ohlsson’s (1992) representational change theory suggest problem representation can be changed?
○ Constraint relaxation: inhibitions on what is regarded as permissible are removed.
○ Re-encoding: some aspect of the problem representation is reinterpreted.
○ Elaboration: new problem information is added to the representation.
What is the Problem-space theory of problem-solving.?
○ problem starts with initial state – intermediate states – goal state.
○ ‘operators’ applied to move from state to state.
○ Numerous alternative states = problem space.
○ People use strategies and knowledge to search through problem space.
What are the heuristic ‘rule of thumb’ methods of Problem Solving?
○ hill-climbing
○ means-ends analysis
○ anti-looping
○ balancing
What is the Hill Climb Method of Problem Solving?
- Continually try and move from present state to a state nearer goal.
- Atwood & Polson (1976) – participants preferred move which seemed closer to goal but actually prolonged solution.
What is the Means-Ends Anaylsis Method of Problem Solving?
- General problem solving strategy.
○ Determine difference between current and goal state
○ Select appropriate operator
○ Have Sub goals
What is Analogical Problem Solving?
Occurs when we abstract info from a previous problem and relate that to a new problem.
What is an ill-defined Problem?
Where little or no information is provided on the initial state, goal state, operators, or some combination of these. Solver needs to define the problem.
When is analogical performance poor?
Cho et al. (2007)
Analogical performance was poor when combination of high problem complexity and interference resolution, because this overloaded the central executive.
