PSYC*2650 Chapter 13: Problem Solving and Creativity

Question 1

What is problem-solving?

Answer 1

A problem in which a person begins with a goal and seeks steps that will lead them to that goal

Question 2

What are two ways in which problems can be solved?

Answer 2

• Analysis
• Insight

Question 3

What is the difference between problem-solving via analysis and problem-solving via insight?

Answer 3

• Analysis: Problem-solving is conscious and involves a deliberate search through the problem space
• Insight: Problem-solving is thought to occur unconsciously and is followed by a sudden moment of illumination

Question 4

T or F: Problems solved via analysis are more likely to be correct than problems solved by insight.

Answer 4

False. Other way around.

Question 5

What is the problem space?

Answer 5

The set of all states that can be reached in solving a problem from its initial state toward its goal state

Question 6

In terms of problem-solving, what is a heuristic?

Answer 6

A strategy that narrows the search through the problem space in a way that hopefully leads to a solution

Question 7

What are the three main problem-solving heuristics?

Answer 7

• The hill-climbing strategy
• Means-end analysis
• Visualization

Question 8

What is the hill-climbing strategy?

Answer 8

When an individual’s efforts towards solving a problem gives them a choice, they choose the option that carries them closer to their goal

Question 9

Why is the hill-climbing strategy of limited use?

Answer 9

Because many problems require that an individual moves briefly away from their goal

Question 10

How is means-end analysis used to solve a problem?

Answer 10

When solving a problem, the person is guided by the difference between their current state and their goal state by reflecting upon what operations are available for reducing that difference

Question 11

Which problem-solving heuristic helps break a problem into smaller “sub-problems”?

Answer 11

Means-end analysis

Question 12

What is mapping?

Answer 12

The process of figuring out how aspects of one situation correspond to aspects of another

Question 13

Which process is crucial for a problem solver’s ability to find and use analogies?

Answer 13

Mapping

Question 14

T or F: People who are better problem-solvers are often those who make better use of analogies.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

How do experts tend to define a problem in their area of expertise?

Answer 15

In terms of the problems’ underlying structure

Question 16

What is an ill-defined problem?

Answer 16

A problem for which the goal state is specified only in general terms and the operations available for reaching the goal state are not obvious at the start

Question 17

What are two strategies to help better define an ill-defined problem?

Answer 17

• Create subgoals
• Include extra constraints and assumptions

Question 18

What is functional fixedness?

Answer 18

The tendency to be rigid in how one thinks about an object’s function

Question 19

What is a problem-solving set?

Answer 19

The collection of beliefs and assumptions a person makes about a problem

Question 20

What is the term “einstellung” used to define?

Answer 20

Refers to the rigidity that can grow out of early efforts in solving a series of problems

Question 21

What are four traits thought to be “prerequisites” for creativity?

Answer 21

• Knowledge and skills within the category
• Certain personality traits
• Motivation unrelated to external reward
• An environment that supports creativity

Question 22

What are the four hypothesized stages of creative thought?

Answer 22

• Preparation
• Incubation
• Illumination
• Verification

Question 23

What occurs during the “preparation stage” of creative thought?

Answer 23

The problem solver begins effortful work on the problem, often with little progress

Question 24

What occurs during the “incubation stage” of creative thought?

Answer 24

The problem solver puts the problem out of their conscious thoughts, but continues to work on it unconsciously

Question 25

What occurs during the “illumination stage” of creative thought?

Answer 25

A new key insight or idea suddenly emerges

Question 26

What occurs during the “verification stage” of creative thought?

Answer 26

The problem solver confirms that their new idea does lead to a solution, and then they work out the details of that solution

Question 27

T or F: Historical evidence suggests that many creative discoveries don’t include the four hypothesized stages of creative thought.

Answer 27

True

Question 28

T or F: A “moment of illumination” was only observed before participants gave a correct answer.

Answer 28

False. It was observed both before participants gave a correct answer and before giving an incorrect answer.

Question 29

What are two potential explanations for why incubation of a problem is effective?

Answer 29

• It allows time for spreading activation to occur
• It may allow for earlier tactics to be forgotten, freeing the problem solver to explore other, more productive avenues

Question 30

T or F: Semantic activation is represented more coarsely in the right hemisphere than the left.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

What does it mean for activation to be coarse?

Answer 31

The activation spreads farther/ is more distributed

Question 32

What is involved in a remote-associates test?

Answer 32

A trio of words is shown to participants, and they must determine the forth words that is related to each of the first three

Question 33

Solving remote-associates test problems is associated with spreading activation in which hemisphere?

Answer 33

Right

Question 34

Which brain area shows an increase in gamma power when the solution to a problem becomes consciously accessible (moment of insight)?

Answer 34

The right anterior temporal lobe (rATL)

Question 35

T or F: Transcranial direct current stimulation over the right anterior temporal lobe increased the rate of solving remote-associates test problems.

Answer 35

True

Question 36

What is convergent thinking?

Answer 36

Finding ways in which seemingly distinct ideas might be interconnected

Question 37

Do remote-associates tests measure convergent or divergent thinking?

Answer 37

Convergent

Question 38

What is divergent thinking?

Answer 38

Moving through one’s thoughts in novel and unanticipated ways

Question 39

What is involved in an unusual uses test?

Answer 39

Participants are given an object and must list as many uses for it as possible

Question 40

Do unusual uses tests measure convergent or divergent thinking?

Answer 40

Divergent

Question 41

What is forward flow?

Answer 41

A measure of how much one’s current thinking breaks away from past thoughts

Question 42

T or F: Forward flow is unrelated to performance on divergent thinking tasks.

Answer 42

False. Forward flow is moderately predictive of performance on divergent thinking tasks.