Chapter 12 Problem solving PDF

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Problem solving and reasoning...

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Problem solving and reasoning

Chapter 12: Problem solving and reasoning Gestalt approach: problem solving is about how we represent the problem in our minds - Involves restructuring and reorganizing the into to reach a solution - Representation: affects our ability to solve - Changing representation: restructuring - Eg. Circle problem of find the radius o Focus on the small part of the problem first Problem solving: problems - Fixation: focus on specific characteristics keeping you from solving the problem - Functional fixedness: focus on familiar functions and uses of the object o E.g. candle mounting using box of matches tacks and candle Insight - Sudden realization of a problem’s solution o Gestalt: discovering a crucial element leading to a solution - Metcalfe and Weibe: insight and non insight problem o Argued you should have a feeling of progression if youre solving a non insight problem o Algebra problems: gradual progression o Insight problem: quick find o Result: insight problems do in fact occur suddenly - Kohler o Studied apes insight on problem solving to get a piece of fruit  Using boxes Information processing theories - Newell and Simon described problem solving as a search that occurs between the posing of a problem and its solution - Tower of Hanoi o Three pegs and three rings o Move rings from one peg to another without placing a larger ring on top of a smaller one o Can only move one at a time o Initial state: conditions at the beginning of the problem o Goal state: solution of the problem o Operator: actions taking the problem from one state to another o Intermediate state: involving a sequence of choices of steps o Problem space: all possible states could occur when solving a problem o Means end analysis: a way of solving a problem goal is to reduce difference between initial and goal states o Subgoals: help create intermediate states closer to goal o This problem is importation because it shows a means end analysis

Problem solving and reasoning

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Water jug problem o Mental set: preconceived notion about how to solve a problem  Determined by experience o Task: figure out how to obtain a certain volume of water on paper with three empty jars of different volume o If participants were primed with a mental set of a formula they would use the formula instead of a quicker solution o Those not primed solved the problem a quicker way Mutilated checkerboard problem o Taking away two corners and asking if you can cover the board with 31 dominos instead of 32 o Four conditions  Blank  Red/black  Words “pink”/ ”black”  Words “bread”/ “butter” solved twice as fast Thinking aloud protocol o Talking while thinking o Private research o Public research Analogical problem solving: using a solution to a similar problem guides solution to new problem o Using the same methods Analogical transfer o Taking methods from one problem to another o Russian marriage problem  32 couples  2 men die  can you make 31 pairs? No cant pair man with men o Dunker: radiation problem  Tumor  Radiation at high intensity is harmful to the healthy tissue  At low intensity radiation cannot reach the tumor  BUT multiple radiation beams with low radiation reach and destroy the tumor  Gestalt: representation and restructuring o Glick and Holyoaks  Follow up experiment to Dunker  Primed with the fortress problem  Multiple entrees  Then asked to solve the radiation problem  More likely to be able to solve radiation problem Analogical paradox o Applied in labs but also in read world settings

Problem solving and reasoning

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o Labs = hard o Real life = easy In vivo problem solving research o People observed to see how they solve problems in real life  Natural setting (+)  Time consuming, no variable control (-) Experts: solve problems in their field at higher and quicker rate than beginners o More knowledge and experience about their field o Knowledge organized differently than novices o Spend more time analyzing problems o Only advantages in their own field o Disadvantage: less open to new problem solving Brainstorming: encouraging freely expressed ideas for problem solving o Divergent thinking: open to potential solutions o Creative cognition: training to think creatively Finke: Pre-inventive forms o Created an object from categories then people give explanations of what they made using those categories o Showed people don’t need to be an inventor to be creative...