Thinking and Problem solving Flashcards
Thinking
Thinking or cognition refers to a process that involves knowing, understanding, remembering and communicating.
orgainzation in thinking - step 1 - concepts
mental grouping of similar objects, events, ideas, or people. There are a variety of chairs, but their common feature define the concept of chair
organization in thinking - step 2 schema
the list of feature of a concept ( the characteristics that make the item what it is) i.e for a chair seat back and legs/base
organization in thinking - step 3 - prototype
the typical or best example of the concept that demonstrates the schema ( list of characteristics)
Algorithms
Methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem.
Algorithms exhaust all possibilities before arriving at a solution. They take a long time. Computers use algorithms.
Let’s say you wanted to find oatmeal at the grocery store…using an algorithm, you would search every aisle until you found the oatmeal.
Heuristics
Are simple thinking strategies that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently.
they enhance the likelihood of success, but cannot assure it
Speedier but more error-prone than algorithms.
Finding the oatmeal…using a heuristic you would read the signs at the end of the aisles, look for cereal & look in that aisle 1st
using & Misusing Heuristics
Two kinds of heuristics have been identified by cognitive psychologists. Representative and availability heuristics. While heuristics often help us solve problems, they can also bias our judgment.
Representativeness Heuristics
Judging the likelihood of things or objects in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match a particular prototype….it allows people to make quick judgments.
If you were to meet a man, dressed in dress slacks and a sweater, who is small in stature, wears glasses, is soft-spoken and somewhat shy and were then asked if this man were a librarian or a construction worker…what would you say?
Availability Heuristics
Cognitive shortcut in which the probability of an event is determined by how easily the event can be brought to mind. You choose the alternative that is most mentally “available”.
People are usually more afraid of dying in a plane crash than in an auto accident, despite contrary evidence…the reason is that plane crashes receive much more publicity, so are more readily brought to mind
Insight
Involves sudden novel realization of a solution to a problem.
Based on prior experience and initial trial-and-error to gain insight.
Brain imaging and EEG studies suggest that when an insight strikes (“Aha” experience) it activates the right temporal cortex (Jung-Beeman, 2004). The time between not knowing the solution to knowing it is 0.3 seconds.
Obstacles to Problem Solving
Sometimes our thinking can get in our way of solving problems.
Fixation: Inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective. Impediment to problem solving.
There are 2 types.
Mental Set
Tendency for old patterns of problem solving to persist and make it impossible for us to see new ways to solve the problem.
Functional Fixedness
Tendency to think of only the familiar or typical functions for objects.
Confirmation Bias:
A tendency to search for information that confirms a personal bias.
We seek evidence to support ideas and tend to dismiss evidence that is contrary to our way of thinking – sometimes we consciously seek this evidence, other times its subconscious.
You are seeking evidence, and you only see evidence that supports your bias (consciously ignore or don’t even see contradicting evidence).
Belief Bias:
Belief Bias: The tendency for one’s preexisting beliefs to distort logical reasoning sometimes by making invalid conclusions.
Your belief alters the way you make conclusions, either accepting illogical conclusions because it matches your belief or rejecting logical conclusions because it contradicts your belief.
