chapter 12: problem solving Flashcards
(40 cards)
what are the 5 steps in the problem-solving cycle
- define the problem
- brainstorm solutions
- pick solution
- implement solution
- review results
why is problem solving considered cyclical?
once you arrive at a solution, you discover a new or similar problem and have to use past info to find solution for new problem
name the three states in common in each problem-solving model and define operators
initial state
intermediate states
goal state
operators: actions that transform current problem state into another problem state
what are the 2 types of problems
- well-defined
- ill-defined
explain well-defined problems
- unambiguous requirements
- info needed to solve problem is present
- applying algorithms
- has constraints
explain ill-defined problems
- ambiguous goal
- requires added info
- situational
- no constraints
ill-defined anagrams showed greater activity in which part of the brain
right prefrontal cortex
name the two theories that describe how we approach problem solving
- solved using knowledge and trial and error (behaviorist)
- solved by considering problems more deeply (gestalt psyc)
explain the behaviorist approach to problem-solving by Thorndike
- reproductive process: use of prev knowledge and what is already known
- trial-and-error
- Law of Effect
what was one phenomena the behaviorist approach could not explain
insight: when a solution to a problem suddenly occurs to you (a-ha moment)
explain the gestalt approach to problem solving
- productive process: actively thinking about problem
- restructuring and manipulating of info
according to the gestalt approach of problem solving, how does insight occur
occurs when info gets restructured and solution suddenly comes to mind
what are heuristics
rules of thumb, educated guess, or common sense judgements
name 5 factors that would increase the likelihood of using heuristics
- when one faced with too much info
- when time to make decision is limited
- when decision is unimportant
- when there’s access to very little information to use in decision making
- when appropriate heuristic comes to mind in the same moment
what is the working backwards heuristic
solving a problem by focusing on the final result
what is the moravec’s paradox
AI solves well-defined problems well, but not ill-defined problems and simple skills
the problem space is a representation that includes:
- initial and goals states
- intermediate paths and operators
- task constraints
what are 2 common barriers that can get in the way of problem solving
- inability to ignore irrelevant info
- functional fixedness
what is the brute force approach of problem solving
systematic algorithm that represents all the possible steps from the problem to goal state
- guaranteed to find a solution, but inefficient
what is a downside of the brute force approach
combinatorial explosion: computing too many alternatives
- no solution is reached
name 2 strategies that help prevent combinatorial explosion
- hill climbing strategy
- means end strategy
what is the hill climbing strategy
- select operation that brings you closer to goal without examining problem space
- can lead to false outcome
- does not require you to move away from the goal to solve it
what is the means-ends strategy
- identify sub-prob to complete goal
- back and forth movement
- constant eval of the difference between current and goal states
- flexible
what is the analogical problem solving
making comparisons between two situations; applying the solution from one of the situations to the other
