Task 3 - Problem Solving

Question 1

Problem Solving

Answer 1

THREE MAJOR ASPECTS:

1. Purposeful / goal -directed
2. involves controlled processes, not totally automatic
3. Problem extists when knowledge of solution is lacking

Well defined /vs./ ill-defined problems = state, goal and methods clear /vs./ imprecise specificty, unclear problem

Knowledge-richt /vs./ -lean problems: relevant background knowledge /vs./ no knowledge needed

MONTY HALL PROBLEM

• ->uniformity fallacy: assuming all options are equally likely
• ->MHP shows falliility as problem solvers

GESTALLT APPROACH
reproductive thinking /vs./ productive thinking: systematic reuse of past expereinces /vs./ restructuring of problem, more complex

Question 2

Insight

Answer 2

=experience of suddenly realizing how to solve a problem (“ah-ha”)

• ->HINTS can be effective without concious awareness of their task relevance
• ->INCUBATION (stage of problem solving where pr. is put to side for some tim) facilitates problem solving because subconscious mind continues to work

Question 3

Past experiences

Answer 3

FUNCTIONAL FIXEDNESS
=inflexible focus on usual functions of an object in problem
overcome this by…
…Challoner (2009): two step process;
1. notice an infrequently noticed or new feature
2. Form a solution based on that obscure feature
…McCaffrey (2012): generic parts technique:
1.Function-free descriptions of each part of an object are produced
2.People decide whether each description implies a use

Chrysikou et. al (2013): high levels of cognitive control can produce funcitonal fixedness

MENTAL SET
=tendency to use a familir problem-solving strategy that has rpvoed successful in the past even when not appropriate
–>impair problem solving

Vallée-Tourangeau et al. (2011) showed that with rich and dynamic nature of perceptual input negative effects of mental set can be reduced

Question 4

Problem solving strategies

Answer 4

PROBLEM SPACE: abstract description of all possible states that can occur in a problem, consists of initial state, goal state & mental operators
HEURISTICS: rules of thumb, cognitively undemanding, often produce approximately accurate answers
ALGORITHMS: contrast to heuristics, generally complex mehtods/procedures guaranteed to lead to problem solution
MEANS-END ANALYSIS: a heuristic method for solving problems based on creating a subgoal to reduce the difference between the current state and the goal state
–>difference between current problem state and goal state
–>form subgoal
–>select mental operator

HILL CLIMBING: heuristic involving focus on short-term goals, doesnt always lead to solution
PROGRESS MONITORING: heuristic involving assessing role of progress towards goal.

PLANNING: its generally assumed most people presented with complex problems will engage in planning, if that is correct PFC should be activated

Question 5

Cognitive miserliness

Answer 5

Many people are CM
=someone who is economical with their time and effort when performing a thinking taks

Performance on cognitive reflections test (showing extend of cognitive misers) correlates positively with intelligence

cognitive misers use heuristics because they are reluctant to engage in effortful processing
(compared to Newell & simon heuristc theory = because we have limited progressing capacity)

Question 6

Analogical Problem solving

Answer 6

–> involves problem solving by using ANALOGIES = comparison between two objects emphasizing similarities

Chen (2002): THREE MAIN TYPES OF PROBLEM SOLVING

1. Superficial similarity, solution irrelevant details are coomon to the two problems
2. Structural similarity: causal relations among some of the main components are shared by both problems
3. Procedural similarity: procedures for turning the solution principle into concreate operations are common to both problems

FINDINGS: ANALOGY DETECTION:
Reception paradigm: participants received information about possible analogy before problem –> mostly use superficial similarities
Production paradigm: people use own analogies –> use more strucutral similarities

Types of analogies used depends on goal of individual

FINDINGS: SEQUENTIAL PROCESSING STAGES

1. Encoding: of the first pair of words based on the relationship between them
2. Mapping: connection is formed between the first words of each pair and an inference drawn as to the fourth word
3. Response: decision concersing the correctness of the fourth word

–>analogical reasoning involves sequential stages, it has to because of the processing demand involved

Question 7

Expertise

Answer 7

–> The high level of knowledge and performance in a given domain that an expert has achieved through years of systematic practice

The development of expertise resembles problem solving in that experts are extremely efficient at solving numerous problems in their area of expertise