Thinking 1- problem solving

Question 1

Three crucial elements to a problem

Answer 1

Starting state
Goal state
Set of processes (operators) to transform from one state to another

Question 2

Behaviourist

Answer 2

Study of behaviour as objective and observable
Most appropriate unit of analysis
Problem solving through trial and error processes

Question 3

Gestaly

Answer 3

Problem solving is more than reproduction of learned processes
Occurs through process of restructuring and insight

Question 4

Thorndike (1889): behaviourist approach

Answer 4

Argued minds of animals and humans were fundamentally similar
Placed cats in a puzzle box and plotted time for animal to solve it
Cats learnt through trial and error
Initial escape is by chance then future escapes become faster
Key finding: problem solving is incremental rather than insightful

Question 5

Köhler (1925): The Gestalt approach

Answer 5

After Thorndike’s experiment scientists thought animals could only learn through trial and error
Köhler proposed alternative viewpoint that animal thought was more complex
Did Weston on monkeys reaching bananas outside of cages
Mane finding: problem solving seemed to be due to a sudden insight rather than trial and error

Question 6

Differences between Thorndike and Köhler

Answer 6

Thorndike’s cats were hungry and distressed, Köhler’s chimps were well-fed and cared for and free to roam
We now know primates are closer to humans in genetic structure, social structure and share many cognitive abilities
Critique: Birch (1945)- apes raised in captivity don’t show the same ‘insight’

Question 7

Wallas (1926): four stages of creative thinking

Answer 7

Preparation
Incubation
Illumination
Verification

Question 8

Wallas (1926): four stages of creative thinking-preparation

Answer 8

A problem is formulated and initial attempts are made to solve the problem

Question 9

Wallas (1926): four stages of creative thinking- incubation

Answer 9

The problem is set aside and no conscious work is done to it

Question 10

Wallas (1926): four stages of creative thinking- illumination

Answer 10

A sudden inspiration provides a new insight into the way in which the problem can be solved

Question 11

Wallas (1926): four stages of creative thinking- verification

Answer 11

Conscious work on the problem develops and tests the inspiration to provide a full solution to the problem

Question 12

Silveira (1971): the cheap necklace problem

Answer 12

Control group: worked on the necklace for half an hour (55% solved problem)
Experimental group 1: worked for half an hour interrupted by a half hour break (64% solved the problem)
Experimental group 2: Worked for half an hour but interrupted by a 4 hour break (85% solved the problem)

Question 13

Murray & Denny (1969): when is incubation necessary?

Answer 13

Subjects divided into high and low ability groups based on performance in ‘use of objects test’ of creativity
Subjects given 20 mins to solve a problem
Half of the subjects had a 5 min break, half didn’t
Murray & Denny suggested incubation was only useful for problems people find hard
for high ability group, distractor task was a distraction and interfered with performance
Lower ability subjects aided by distracter task and required period of incubation

Question 14

Functional fixedness

Answer 14

People fixate on a property/function of an object that can be used to solve a problem and can’t think about it a different way

Question 15

Mental set

Answer 15

Learn a particular strategy for solving a problem which has produced success in the past, but continue to use it even when innappropriate

Question 16

Feeling of Warmth (FoW)

Answer 16

Can sometimes predict how close to a solution you are
Better for incremental solutions than insight solutions
Can distinguish types of problems based on phenomenum of insight
Metcalfe’s work suggests insight is a special type of problem solving