Problem solving and creativity

Question 1

What 7 steps are part of the problem-solving cycle?

Answer 1

Problem identification, definition of problem, constructing a strategy for problem solving, organizing information about a problem, allocation of resources, monitoring problem solving, and evaluating problem solving

Question 2

Breaking down the whole of a complex problem into manageable elements:

Answer 2

analysis

Question 3

Putting together various elements to arrange them into something useful:

Answer 3

synthesis

Question 4

Try to generate a diverse assortment of possible alternative solutions:

Answer 4

divergent thinking

Question 5

Narrow down the multiple possibilities to converge on a single best answer:

Answer 5

convergent thinking

Question 6

Well-structured problems:

Answer 6

clear paths to solutions

Question 7

Well-structured problems are also knows as?

Answer 7

Well-defined problems

Question 8

Ill-structured problems:

Answer 8

lack clear paths to solutions

Question 9

Ill-structured problems are also knows as?

Answer 9

ill-defined problems

Question 10

What are the 3 kinds of errors people make when trying to solve well-structured problems?

Answer 10

Inadvertently moving backwards, making illegal moves, not realizing the nature of the next legal move.

Question 11

Reverting to a state that is further from the end goal:

Answer 11

inadvertently moving backwards

Question 12

Making a move that is not permitted according to the terms of the problem:

Answer 12

making illegal moves

Question 13

Becoming “stuck”, not knowing what to do next, given the current stage of the problem:

Answer 13

not realizing the nature of the next legal move

Question 14

The universe of all possible actions that can be applied to solving a problem, given any constraints that apply to the solution of the problem:

Answer 14

problem space

Question 15

Sequences of operations that may be repeated over and over again and that guarantee the solution of a problem:

Answer 15

algorithms

Question 16

Mental shortcuts:

Answer 16

heuristics

Question 17

Informal, intuitive, speculative strategies that sometimes lead to an effective solution and sometimes do not:

Answer 17

heuristics

Question 18

What are four types of heuristics?

Answer 18

means-end analysis, working forward, working backward, and generate and test.

Question 19

The problem solver analyzes the problem by viewing the end- the goal being sought- and then tries to decrease the distance between the current position in the problem space and the end goal in that space:

Answer 19

Means-end analysis

Question 20

The problem solver starts at the beginning and tries to solve the problem from the start to finish:

Answer 20

working forward

Question 21

The problem solver starts at the end and tries to work backward from there:

Answer 21

working backward

Question 22

The problem solver simply generates alternative courses of action, not necessarily in a systematic way, and then notices in turn whether each course of action will work:

Answer 22

generate and test

Question 23

Isomorphic problems:

Answer 23

the formal structure is the same and only the content differs

Question 24

A distinctive and sometimes sudden understanding of a problem or a strategy that aids in solving the problem:

Answer 24

insight

Question 25

Insights that go beyond the bounds of existing associations:

Answer 25

productive thinking

Question 26

existing associations involving what is all ready known:

Answer 26

reproductive thinking

Question 27

A frame of mind involving an existing model for representing a problem, a problem context, or a procedure for problem solving:

Answer 27

mental set

Question 28

Another word for mental set:

Answer 28

entrenchment

Question 29

The inability to realize that something known to have a particular use may also be used for performing other functions:

Answer 29

functional fixedness

Question 30

Beliefs that members of a social group tend more or less uniformly to have particular types of characteristics:

Answer 30

stereotypes

Question 31

A carryover of knowledge or skills from one problem situation to another:

Answer 31

transfer

Question 32

solving an earlier problem makes it harder to solve a later one:

Answer 32

negative transfer

Question 33

The solution of an earlier problem makes it easier to solve a new problem:

Answer 33

positive transfer

Question 34

an effort to overcome obstacles obstructing the path to a solution:

Answer 34

problem solving

Question 35

putting the problem aside for a while without consciously thinking about it

Answer 35

incubation

Question 36

The process of producing something that is both original and worthwhile:

Answer 36

creativity