Problem Solving

Question 1

Problem

Answer 1

Occurs when there is a clear obstacle between a present state and a goal state and when it isn’t immediately obvious how to get around the obstacle

Question 2

Well-defined problem

Answer 2

Incremental problems (certain procedures, when applied correctly, will lead to solution)
Example: math problems

Question 3

Ill-defined problem

Answer 3

Don’t have just one correct answer
Insight problems
More like problems we encounter in everyday life (example: picking a career)
Path to solution is often unclear
“Aha!” moments (feel totally stuck, then arrive at solution)

Question 4

Gestalt approach to problem solving

Answer 4

Involves representation and restructuring to arrive at correct solution
Uses insight

Question 5

Representation

Answer 5

How problem and goal are modeled in one’s mind

Essential piece of Gestalt problem solving

Question 6

Restructuring

Answer 6

Solving the problem by representing it in a different way

Essential piece of Gestalt problem solving

Question 7

Difference between incremental and insight problem solving

Answer 7

Measured using warmth ratings (rating how close you feel to solution)
Insight: low warmth ratings, then sudden peak as problem is solved
Incremental: steady increase in warmth ratings

Question 8

Fixation

Answer 8

Obstacle to problem solving
Tendency to focus on a specific characteristic of the problem, preventing arrival at the solution
Example: elevator riddle (don’t see umbrella as tool for reaching), Duncker’s candle problem (don’t see matchbox as support structure)

Question 9

Mental set

Answer 9

Preconceived notion about how to approach a problem, which is determined by what has worked in the past
Can be good or bad
Example: Luchin’s water jug problem (can solve last 2 questions more easily than by using formula that works for all questions)

Question 10

Information processing approach to problem solving

Answer 10

Problem space: intial state (conditions present initially), intermediate state (middle of problem), goal state (solution)
People move through problem space when solving problems

Question 11

Means-end analysis

Answer 11

Figuring out the path to take through the problem space
Goal: reduce difference between initial and goal states
Set goals and subgoals: take into account initial and goal state

Question 12

Operators

Answer 12

Rules to complete tasks

Question 13

Size of problem space and difficulty of task

Answer 13

Difficulty increases as problem space increases
Size of problem space varies depending on how many possible intermediate states exist (example: easier to get “quartz” out of “zuqrat” than to get “mature” out of “taumer”)
Equal problem space doesn’t always mean equal difficulty

Question 14

What 2 factors lead to problem difficulty?

Answer 14

Size of problem space and knowledge/experience about problem

Question 15

Mutilated checkerboard problem

Answer 15

Can a checkerboard with 2 corner squares missing be covered by 31 dominos?
4 conditions: blank checkerboard, color (normally appears on a checkerboard), color words, “bread” and “butter”
Longest to figure out: blank
Shortest to figure out: “bread” and “butter”
Problems that relate to everyday experience are faster to solve
Even faster: Russian marriage problem

Question 16

Analogical problem solving

Answer 16

Using solution to similar problem to guide solution to new problem

Question 17

Analogical problem solving steps

Answer 17

1. Noticing that 2 problems are similar
2. Mapping out connections from 1 to the next
3. Applying solution from old problem to new problem

Question 18

Target problem

Answer 18

Analogical problem solving

Problem that needs to be solved (new problem)

Question 19

Source problem

Answer 19

Analogical problem solving

Problem that has solution

Question 20

Duncker radiation problem

Answer 20

How to eradicate tumor in body without disturbing rest of body
On own, 10% correctly solve problem
Given story about fortress (divide and conquer), 30% can correctly solve problem
When given hint that fortress story connects to problem, 75% can correctly solve problem
People are bad at connecting problems!

Question 21

Analogical transfer

Answer 21

Noticing that 2 instances are similar and that solution to one can lead to solution to other

Question 22

Difference between surface and structural similarity

Answer 22

Surface: specific details of problem (tumor and radiation vs. fortress and army)
Structural: underlying principle that governs solution (goal is to destroy, principle of breaking up stronger unit)
People get hung up in surface details: obstacle to analogical problem solving

Question 23

Analogical paradox

Answer 23

People are bad at analogical problem solving in experiments, but use it all the time in real life
Explanation: role of expertise (in real life, people are operating in their areas of expertise)

Question 24

Expertise and problem solving

Answer 24

Experts are faster and more successful at solving problems than novices
Look at structural similarity rather than surface similarity
Spend time analyzing problems (don’t jump in right away), but ultimately catch up and finish problem faster than novices
However, expertise effects only apply to subjects in which the expert actually has expertise