unit 12 Flashcards
what are the four components of a problem?
- initial state
- goal state
- rules and constraints
- obstacles
describe initial state.
state at beginning of problem
describe goal state.
solution to the problem
describe rules and constraints
what you can and cannot do
describe obstacles.
must be overcome to achieve goal
explain the difference between a well-defined and an ill-defined problem
well-defined problem: clear and structured, components are well understood, when it is solved, you will know it is solved
ill-defined problem: fuzzy and abstract, components not well understood, harder to tell when a solution is reached
explain the difference between a routine problem and a non-routine problem.
routine problem: can be solved by applying well-practices procedures , components of problem are familiar
non-routine problem: components are not familiar, first-time problems are non-routine but many can become routine with practice
what are some challenges faced by researchers who study problem solving?
complex vs. simple; brief vs. time-consuming; real-world problems vs. puzzles/brain teasers; etc.
problems can be time-consuming to solve
how to observe or measure problem-solving
in what ways have verbal reports helped researchers understand problem-solving?
verbal reports generated by problem solvers as they think through the problems out loud, reveals strategies, reasoning, and decision-making steps.
in what ways are verbal reports limited?
can’t assess the accuracy of a verbal report
thinking out loud may interfere or change the thought process being described
describe transformation problems.
must find the appropriate steps or strategies to move from an initial state to a given goal state
ex. tower of hanoi
describe arrangement problems.
all problems elements presented, must figure out how to arrange them
ex: anagrams, seating chart, scheduling
describe induction problems.
given a series of exemplars or instances and must figure out the pattern or rule that relates the instances
ex: 1 2 3 5 8 13
describe deduction problems.
premises or conditions are given, and the solver must determine whether a solution/conclusion fits
ex:
- all Xs are Ys
-Z is not a Y
There, Z is not an X (is that a correct conclusion?)
describe divergent problems.
must generate as many solutions as possible
ex: describes possible uses for a shovel, brainstorm many possible career paths
what is creativity?
ability to come up with novel and appropriate solutions
describe the behaviorist approaches to study problem solving
focuses on observable behaviors and reinforcement in learning problem-solving
describe the gestalt behaviorist approach to study problem solving
emphasizes holistic perception and restructing problems to gain insight
describe the information processing approach to study problem solving.
views problem-solving as a step-by-step process, like computer algorithms
how important is it for a person to form an accurate representation of the problem at hand?
very crucial, correct solution is dependent on representation
- failure in representation = no solution
what is “mental set”? when might it be good? when might it be bad?
mental set: tendency to rely on habits and procedures used in the past
good: speeds up problem-solving when the same strategy is effective
bad: prevents seeing new or better solutions (getting stuck on a past method that does not work)
what is “functional fixedness”? Give an example of how a person might perceive an object in a functionally fixed way.
functional fixedness: tendency to view objects in a narrow and fixed way, based on their typical function
Ex: seeing a paperclip only as a tool for holding papers and not as a makeshift hook.
describe how a person might use an algorithm to solve a problem. pros and cons?
algorithm: a set of rules can be applied systematically to solve certain types of problems
pros: guarantees correct answer (if applied correctly)
cons: may not always be fastest or easiest approach: algorithms not always available/feasible for some problem types
describe how a person might use a heuristic to solve a problem. pros and cons?
heuristics: general strategies, or “rule of thumb,” that can be applied to some types of problems
pros: efficiency
cons: does not guarantee correct solution
