Problme Solving 1

Question 1

What is a problem?

Answer 1

An obstacle between a present state and a goal with no obvious solution

Question 2

What do Gestalt psychologists?

Answer 2

• How people represent the probelm in their mind
• they reframe the probelm
• restructring this representation

Question 3

What does gestalt define as “insight”?

Answer 3

The aha momment
- Suddenness: The solution comes all at once, not gradually or through trial and error.

Question 4

What is an non-insight probelm according to Gestalt psychologists?

Answer 4

• you apply strategies, break it into smaller steps, or use systematic problem-solving methods

Question 5

What does the finding by Metcalfe and wiebe find?

Answer 5

• that for insight probelms, their closeness to solving the problem wasn’t going up as much then all of a sudden they got it
• but for non inisght peobelms, it was going up gradually and then they got it

Question 6

What are some obstacles to probelm solving according to Gestalt?

Answer 6

• fixation (or functional fixedness)
• mental set

Question 7

What is fixation (or functional fixedness)?

Answer 7

• not thinking of diffrent ways to use things that wont usually be used that way

Question 8

What is mental set?

Answer 8

• solving things in the same way over and over again
• other techniques that help us solve the same probelm
• we dont’ try to solve things diffrently

For example, the water jug problem

Question 9

What it Initial State:

Answer 9

This is where the problem starts, including all the information and resources available at the beginning.
Example: A math problem gives you the diameter of a circle and asks you to find the radius.

Question 10

What is Goal State:

Answer 10

This is the desired outcome or solution to the problem.
Example: The goal is to find the value of the radius.

Question 11

What are Operators?

Answer 11

• These are the actions or steps you can take to move from the initial state to the goal state.
  Example: Using the formula
  𝑟
  =
  𝑑
  2
  r=
  2
  d
  ​
  , dividing the diameter by 2 is the operator.

Question 12

What are Intermediate States:

Answer 12

These are the steps or stages between the initial state and the goal state as you work on solving the problem.
Example: First, you understand the relationship between radius and diameter. Then, you perform the calculation to find the radius.

Question 13

What is Problem Space:

Answer 13

This refers to the entire set of possible states and actions (initial, intermediate, and goal states) that can be explored to solve the problem.
Example: In solving for the radius, the problem space includes all possible values for diameter, radius, and the operations you can perform to connect them.

Question 14

Means-Ends Analysis:

Answer 14

• A heuristic used to solve problems by breaking them down into smaller sub-goals. At each step, you reduce the difference between your current state and the goal state.
  Example:
  Identify the goal: Find the radius.
  Recognize the difference: You know the diameter but not the radius.
  Apply an operator: Use
  𝑟
  =
  𝑑
  2
  r=
  2
  d
  ​
  to reduce the gap and solve for the radius.

Question 15

What is the Tower of hanoi?

Answer 15

Used to idenitfy frontal lobe damage can’t keep instructions, goal in place. great dificulty keeping it in order

Question 16

Waht is stating the problem (multilated chessboard)

Answer 16

• 64 spaces
• remove 2 red squares
• add domino to cover 1 red and 1 black
• must fit everywhere
• no peices can hang off the board
• can’t solve it

because you removed 2 red ones, red and black no longer even