Psychology of Planning Flashcards
Define planning
Deciding on the order and intensity of the decomposition of a problem, and determining the consequences of alternative plans
What are the 4 problem components?
- initial state
- goal state
- operators
- constraints
Give 3 different types of decomposition orders
- Breadth-first
- Depth-first
- Opportunistic
What is breadth-first problem decomposition?
Considering all sub-goals at the same time
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of breadth-first problem decomposition
- Minimal commitment so unlikely to have to reverse/rewrite plan
- But spend little time doing so lacks feedback
What is depth-first problem decomposition?
Considering each sub-goal individually
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of depth-first problem decomposition
- Immediate feedback and simpler to do as less cognitive load
- But high commitment risks reversal of plan
What is opportunistic problem decomposition?
Capitalising on current state/circumstances
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of opportunistic problem decomposition
- Most efficient in regards to external environment
- Can be wasteful
What method of problem decomposition do skilled designers employ?
They work in breadth-first and depth-first together
What is the problem space?
Mental representation of a problem
What is the state space?
All possible paths between the initial goal states
What concepts did Newell and Simoon (1972) propose?
Bounded rationality and satisficing
What are 3 components of the task environment?
- format
- thematic content
- conditions
What is working memory related to?
Constraint on planning steps
What is long term memory related to?
Knowledge of solutions, operators and constraints; expertise
What is means-ends analysis?
Selecting operators that minimise the distance between initial and goal states; determining sub-goals on how to apply those operators
What are the most common responses to the 9-ball task?
42% weigh 4 vs 4
37% weight 4 vs 5
What does making each weigh cost money change in participants solving the problem?
Prompts planning, so participants reach correct answer more quickly
What is the correct solution to the 9-ball problem?
- weigh 3 vs 3
- weigh 1 vs 1
