Problem Solving & Creativity - Chapter 12

Question 1

Problem

Answer 1

When there is an obstacle between a present state and a goal and it is not immediately obvious how to get around the obstacle.

Question 2

Restructuring

Answer 2

The process of changing the problem’s representation.

Question 3

Insight

Answer 3

Any sudden comprehension, realization, problem solution that involves a reorganization of a person’s mental representation of a stimulus, situation, or event to yield an interpretation that was not initially obvious.

Question 4

Analytically Based Problems

Answer 4

Solved by a process of systematic analysis; often using techniques based on past experience.

Question 5

Fixation

Answer 5

The tendency to focus on a specific characteristic of the problem that keeps them from arriving at a solution.

Question 6

Functional Fixedness

Answer 6

Focusing on familiar functions or uses of an object.

Question 7

Candle Problem

Answer 7

Asked to use various objects to complete a task, match box with items either inside or outside. Supposed to use container as a support.

Question 8

Two-String Problem

Answer 8

Task was to tie together two strings that were hanging from the ceiling. Chair, pliers; pliers as pendulum.

Question 9

Mental Set

Answer 9

A preconceived notion about how to approach a problem, determined by a person’s experience of what has worked in the psat.

Question 10

Water Jug Problem

Answer 10

Task is to figure out on paper how to obtain a required volume of water with three empty jars for measure.
Proves affect of mental sets.

Question 11

Tower of Hanoi Problem

Answer 11

Moving discs from one peg to another in a specific order.

Question 12

Initial State

Answer 12

Conditions at the beginning of a problem.

Question 13

Goal State

Answer 13

Solution of the problem.

Question 14

Operators

Answer 14

Actions that take the problem from one state to another.

Question 15

Intermediate State

Answer 15

Between initial and goal states. Each action creates an intermediate state.

Question 16

Problem Space

Answer 16

Initial state, goal state, intermediate state.

Question 17

Means-End Analysis

Answer 17

To reduce the difference between the initial and goal states. Creating subgoals.

Question 18

Subgoals

Answer 18

Intermediate states that are closer to the goal.

Question 19

Mutilated Checkerboard Problem

Answer 19

If we eliminate two corners of the checkerboard, can we now cover the remaining squares with 31 dominos? Impossible.

Question 20

Think-Aloud Protocol

Answer 20

Asked to say out loud what they are thinking while solving a problem. Verbalize new thoughts as they occur.

Question 21

Analogy

Answer 21

Using the solution to a similar problem to guide solution of a new problem.

Question 22

Analogical Problem Solving

Answer 22

Using an analogy to problem solve; using solution to a similar problem to guide solution of a new problem.

Question 23

Analogical Transfer

Answer 23

The transfer of solution from one problem to another

Question 24

Target Problem

Answer 24

Problem the participants are trying to solve

Question 25

Source Problem

Answer 25

Another problem that shares some similarities with the target problem and that illustrates a way to solve the target problem.

Question 26

Radiation Problem

Answer 26

Tumor problem.

Question 27

Processes of Analogical Problem Solving

Answer 27

Noticing, mapping, applying.

Question 28

Analogical Encoding

Answer 28

Process by which two problems are compared and similarities between them are determined.

Question 29

Trade-Off Strategy

Answer 29

Negotiating strategy in which one person says to another, “I’ll give you A, if you’ll give me B”

Question 30

Contingency Strategy

Answer 30

Negotiating strategy in which a person gets what he or she wants if something else happens.

Question 31

Analogical Paradox

Answer 31

People routinely use analogies in real-world settings.

Question 32

In Vivo Problem-Solving Research

Answer 32

Observing people to determine how they solve problems in real-world situations.

Question 33

Experts

Answer 33

People who, by devoting a large amount of time to learning about a field and practicing and applying that learning, have become acknowledged as being extremely knowledgeable or skilled in that particular field.

Question 34

Divergent Thinking

Answer 34

Thinking that is open-ended, involving a large number of potential solutions.

Question 35

Group Brainstorming

Answer 35

To encourage people to freely express ideas that might be useful in solving a particular problem. Say whatever ideas come into mind.

Question 36

Creative Cognition

Answer 36

A technique developed by Finke to train people to think creatively.

Question 37

Preinventive Forms

Answer 37

Ideas that precede the creation of a finished creative product.

Question 38

Nine-Dot Problem

Answer 38

Draw four straight lines that pass through all nine dots without lifting pen or retracing.

Question 39

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Answer 39

Stimulating brain with two electrodes; one is positively charged one is negatively charged.

Question 40

Compound Remote-Associate Problem

Answer 40

Three words are presented; determine one word that when combined with each of these words, forms a new word or phrase.

Question 41

Incubation

Answer 41

Getting ideas after a “time-out” from working on a problem.

Question 42

Alternate Uses Task (AUT)

Answer 42

Baseline task; 12 min incubation period; try baseline AUT again.

Question 43

Executive Control Network (ECN)

Answer 43

Involved in directing attention as a person is carrying out tasks. Crucial role in creativity.

Question 44

Daydreaming

Answer 44

Mind wandering.

Question 45

Volitional Daydreaming

Answer 45

Act of choosing to disengage from external tasks in order to pursue an internal stream of thought that might have positive outcomes.

Question 46

Mindfulness

Answer 46

Actively noticing things, paying attention to present moment.

Question 47

Meditation

Answer 47

A number of different practices for controlling the mind.

Question 48

Focused Attention (FA) Meditation

Answer 48

Focus on one thing, when mind wanders, bring attention back to one thing.

Question 49

Open Monitoring (OM) Mediation

Answer 49

Paying attention to whatever comes to mind, follow thought until something else comes along.

Question 50

Imagination Network

Answer 50

Default mode network (Kaufman & Gregoire).

Question 51

Gestalt Psychologists

Answer 51

How people represent a problem in their minds; Restructuring of representation. Reorganization associated with insight.

Question 52

Information-Processing Approach

Answer 52

Newell & Simon; searching of a problem space to find path between initial state and goal state.

Question 53

Dunckers Radiation Problem Outcomes

Answer 53

Most people do not make connection between source problem or story and target problem.

Question 54

Experts are:

Answer 54

Better than novices at solving problems, spend more time analyzing problem, organize on deeper structure.

Question 55

What leads to generation of ideas?

Answer 55

Knowledge essential; too much can be bad-inhibit creative design.

Question 56

Effects of Brainstorming:

Answer 56

Increases creativity; more effective individually and combining opposed to generating in groups.

Question 57

Deactivating _ increases _

Answer 57

Deactivating left ATL increases creativity.

Question 58

Convergent Thinking

Answer 58

Learning facts and concepts and using them to select one clearly correct answer.

Question 59

Verbal Fluency Test

Answer 59

Asked to generate as many words as they can think of that start with a particular letter.

Question 60

Design Fluency Test

Answer 60

Asked to generate as many non-representational doodles in a given period.