Problem 3- Problem Solving

Question 1

well defined problems

Answer 1

• problems in which the initial state, goal and methods available for solving them are clearly laid out
• example: chess

Question 2

ill-defined problems

Answer 2

• definition of problem statement is imprecisely
• initial state, goal state and methods may be unclear
• example: being happy

Question 3

knowledge rich problems

Answer 3

• can only be solved through the use of considerable amounts of prior knowledge
• chess

Question 4

knowledge lean problems

Answer 4

• can be solved without use of much prior knowledge

- most of necessary info is provided by the problem statement

Question 5

gestalt approach - problem solving - by wallace

Answer 5

• productive thinking: solving problems by developing an understanding of problem’s underlying structrue
• INSIGHT

Question 6

insight

Answer 6

• suddenly realizing how to solve a problem
• reorganizing/restructuring of elements of the problem situation in such a way as to provide a solution (productive thinking)
• ‘aha’ experience

Question 7

does insight exist?

Answer 7

-subjective report, behavioral evidence, neuro-imaging evidence all support a distinction between problem solutions based on insight and those based on more deliberate thought processes

Question 8

functional fixedness

Answer 8

-inability to use an object appropriately in a given situation due to prior experience using it in a different way

Question 9

Einstellung/mental set

Answer 9

-people use a familiar strategy even when there is a simpler alternative or the problem cannot be solved using it

Question 10

problem space hypothesis

Answer 10

• an abstract description of all the possible states that can occur in a problem situation
• entire set of nodes occupies some mental area

Question 11

heuristics

Answer 11

• we heavily rely on heuristics to solve problems

- > rules of thumb that are cognitively undemanding and often produce approximately accurate answers

Question 12

Means-end analysis

Answer 12

-creating a subgoal to reduce the difference between the current state and the goal state

Question 13

hill climbing

Answer 13

• changing the present state of a problem into one apparently closer to the goal
• > simpler than means-end analysis, use it when you don’t really understand the problem structure

Question 14

Progress monitoring

Answer 14

-insufficiently rapid progress towards solution leads to the adoption of a different strategy

Question 15

Generate-and-test technique

Answer 15

• generating possible solutions and then testing them

- useful, when there aren’t a lot of possibilities to keep track of

Question 16

Incubation and problem solving

Answer 16

• problem is solved more easily by ignoring it for some time
• mind continues to work on problem unconsciously
• misleading information is forgotten
• stronger effect for creative problems with multiple solutions and long preparation time
• linguistic problem: low cognitive load tasks gave strongest incubation time

Question 17

Representational change theory

Answer 17

• change representation of the problem
• ways of changing:
• > elaboration
• > constraint relaxation
• > re-encoding

Question 18

How to get more insight

Answer 18

• incubation
• situation of creative desperation
• more curiosity about contradictions
• encouragement of risk taking

Question 19

Backtracking

Answer 19

• in problem solving one makes assumptions

- keeping track of situations where assumptions were made, changing them and moving forward again

Question 20

Reasoning by analogy

Answer 20

• comparing 2 things that are structurally similar and using those similarities to draw some conclusion
• using past experience and knowledge to assist in current task

Question 21

Working backwards

Answer 21

• analyzing goal to determine the last step needed to achieve it, then the next-to-last step, and so on
• involves establishing sub-goals (similar to means-end analysis)

Question 22

Duncker candle study

Answer 22

• give participants candle, box of nails and other objects
• task: attach candle to the wall next to the table so it did not drip onto the table
• > results: participants attempted to nail candle directly to wall, did not think about nailing box to wall and placing candle inside
• > functional fixedness

Question 23

Design thinking

Answer 23

• offers structured methodology for generating innovation

- unnatural act for humans

Question 24

expertise

Answer 24

chunking theory: memory chunks contain more info and more chunks are stored

template theory: chunks that are used frequently develop into more complex data structures

routine expertise: focus on template thory - using acquired knowledge to solve familiar problems

adaptive expertise: using knowledge to develop (new) strategies

Question 25

analogical problem solving

Answer 25

if you already solved a problem in one way and do it again this way

Question 26

creativity

Answer 26

ability to produce work that is novel and context appropriate

Question 27

(lecture) Sternberg investment theory

Answer 27

creativity is a decision