Problem Solving

Question 1

What is problem solving?

Answer 1

where the agent (problem solver) is in one state and wants to be in another state

Question 2

What is bridging the gap?

Answer 2

a consciously guided multi step process

Question 3

What is analogical problem solving?

Answer 3

using past experiences to assist us in current task
detect and make use of analogies or similarities between current problem and solved problems in past

Question 4

What are 2 key aspects of problem solving?

Answer 4

• purposeful (goal directed)
• controlled processes (not reliant on automatic processes)

Question 5

Reproductive versus productive thinking

Answer 5

reproductive = systematic reuse of previous experience
productive = novel problem restructuring

Question 6

Well-defined problem versus ill-defined problem

Answer 6

well defined = where initial state, goal and methods for solving are clearly laid out
ill-defined = where problem is imprecisely specified

Question 7

what is an example of a well-defined problem?

Answer 7

chess

Question 8

knowledge rich versus knowledge lean problems

Answer 8

knowledge rich = requires previous knowledge
knowledge lean = can be solved with little or no prior knowledge

Question 9

What are problems requiring productive thinking solved using?

Answer 9

insight

Question 10

What brain area is involved in insight?

Answer 10

the anterior superior temporal gyrus

Question 11

Black (1946)

Answer 11

mutilated draughtboard problem
2 diagonally opposite corners on chess board are removed
31 dominos where each one has to cover a black and white square
answer is it’s not possible

Question 12

Ohlsson and Ollinger: Representational change theory

Answer 12

theory used to overcome impasse (a dead end)
need to change the problem representation:
- constraint relaxation
- re-encoding
- elaboration

Question 13

Knoblich et al (1999)

Answer 13

type A problem (move value to make equation correct)
type B problem (move operator)
ppts initially spent more time fixating on values than operators on both
initial representation = values had to be changed

Question 14

How can we facilitate insight?

Answer 14

by providing subtle hints

Question 15

What can problem solving benefit from? (Wallas)

Answer 15

problem solving can benefit from incubation

Question 16

What is incubation?

Answer 16

when a solution comes to mind after a temporary shift of attention to another domain
(doing something else then coming back to problem and can solve it)

Question 17

What is functional fixedness?

Answer 17

the inflexible focus on the usual functions of an object in problem solving

Question 18

Simon and Newell: problem solving strategies

Answer 18

to solve problems, use heuristics
they believe our limited processing capacity forces us to use heuristics
3 main heuristics

Question 19

According to Simon and Newell, what are the 3 heuristics used to solve problems?

Answer 19

• hill climbing heuristic
• means-end analysis
• meta-reasoning

Question 20

What is hill climbing heuristic?

Answer 20

changing the present state within a problem into one closer to goal
focus on short term goals
mostly used when problem solver has no clear understanding of problem structure

Question 21

What is means-ends analysis?

Answer 21

note the diff between current state and goal state
form a subgoal to reduce diff between states
select a mental operator (move) that allows attainment of subgoal

Question 22

What is meta-reasoning?

Answer 22

progress monitoring (assess rate of progress towards goal)
example = nine dot problem

Question 23

What is the most important heuristic method?

Answer 23

means-ends analysis

Question 24

What is a cognitive miser?

Answer 24

someone who uses heuristics because they are reluctant to engage in effortful processing
economical with their time and effort when performing a task

Question 25

Gould

Answer 25

argued scientists can be so strongly influenced by the theory they already hold that the do not interpret new data objectively

Question 26

What is the Einstellung (mental set) effect?

Answer 26

occurs when an idea that comes to mind immediately in a familiar context prevents alternative viewpoints being considered

Question 27

Luchins 91942) study

Answer 27

• ppts solved problems and learnt fixed method to solve it
• ppts given problem that could be solved using usual method but also with a diff, quicker method (called 2 solution problem)
• most used old method and didn’t spot new method
• when presented with final problem (called 1 solution problem) where usual method didn’t work, said it was insoluble

Question 28

Bilalic (2008): Einstellung effect in experts

Answer 28

• chess experts all found familiar solution
• then looked for a quicker solution
• those who failed to find it were shown a 1 solution problem
• all players found shorter solution in the 1 solution problem
• solution was more discoverable when absence of familiar solution

Question 29

What method of studying can be used to this type of experiment?

Answer 29

recording eye movements

Question 30

What does eye movement data demonstrate?

Answer 30

how a pattern of thought, once activated, can prevent other patterns of thought becoming active