Problem Solving Flashcards by Katy L

What is problem solving?

Problem -> goal state

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What are the three stages of multi-step cognitive process of problem solving?

Recognizing and representing problem, analyzing and solving it, assessing the solution ‘s effectiveness

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What si the problem-solving cycle?

Go through it many times until reaching solution

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What does recursive mean?

Repeat until solution is found

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What does applicable and adaptable mean for problem solving?

Output should be a solution to current problem AND a version that can be generalized for other problems

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What are the two types of problems?

Well-defined and ill-defined problems

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What are well-defined problems?

Requirements are unambiguous
All info needed to solve problem is present
Applying algorithms
Have defined goal state, task constraints, single, expected outcome

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What ill-defined problems?

How to overcome problem/the goal is ambiguous
Requires added info
Situational
Have few limitations for how to solve problem, multiple solutions/expected outcomes

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What is the evidence that episodic memory assists in problem solving?

Those with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who have hippocampal damage have WORSE solutions with relevant steps

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What was the result of studying TLE patients with hippocampal damage vs. control group?

Episodic memory helps create hypothetical outcomes

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What activity is linked to ill-defined anagrams?

Greater activity in right lateral prefrontal cortex - has a greater ‘cognitive load’

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Why do ill-defined problems have a higher cognitive load demand?

They do not have schematic solutions to reduce working memory capacity

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What is Moravec’s paradox?

“Everything that’s easy is hard, and everything that’s hard is easy”
- Don’t always need the most complex network to solve issues

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What are strategies to solve well-defined problems?

Algorithms
Brute force approach
Heuristics

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How are algorithms used to solve well-defined problems?

They represent an info processing approach to study problem
- Depicts strategies to move through a “problem space”: initial and goals states, intermediate paths and operators, task constraints

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What is the Tower of Hanoi?

Moving three discs from peg A to C so they are in the same initial order:
- Example of well-defined problems
- Constraints: no disc can lie on top of a smaller one and only one disc can be moved at a time
Example of well-defined problem

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What is the brute force approach?

Consider all things at once

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What are the results of the brute force approach?

Always guaranteed a solution but inefficient

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What can brute force approach lead to?

Combinatorial explosion - computing too many alternatives
- Linked to decision fatigue

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What are heuristics?

Selected strategies (rather than doing it all)

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What is involved in the “thinking aloud procedure”?

Concurrent verbalization: describe what you are doing AS you do it
Retrospective verbalization: describe what you did at an EARLIER time

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What is trial and error?

Type of heuristics involving “lower-level thinking”
- Try number of solutions and rule out what doesn’t work

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What is trial and error good/bad for?

Good for limited outcome problems
Not good for multi-outcome problems

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What is the hill climbing strategy?

Select the operation that brings you closer to the goal without examining the whole problem space (difference reduction strategy)

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What are the downsides of hill climbing strategy?

- Can lead to false outcome (local maxima) mistaken as final goal - Doesn’t always work - problems sometimes require you to go backwards rather than fowards

What is the means end strategy?

Constantly evaluating the difference between current and goal states - choose the state closer to final goal

What is the pro of means end strategy vs the hill climbing strategy?

More flexible - allows recursion (ability to go back)

How do experts/non-experts approach a problem?

- Experts: spend more time restructuring/defining a problem - Non-experts: more time focused on solution

What is the radiologist eye-tracking problem solving study?

- Novice radiologists had more eye movement when looking at x-rays - Expert radiologists look at specific places (ignored unnecessary details)

How were the novice/expert radiologists brain activities?

- Novice: left hemisphere - Expert: right hemisphere

What view do experts have?

More holistic view

What is the brain area of experts when processing information in their field?

Recruit more brain areas that process info related to their expertise

What is analogical problem solving?

Making comparisons across scenarios - applying solution from past situation to current problem

What are the two types of problems related to analogical problem solving?

Target and source problems

What is a target problem?

Problem you are trying to solve

What is a source problem?

Problem that shares similarity with target problem

What are the steps of analogical problem solving?

- Notice a relationship - Map the correspondence - Apply the map: find the parallels

What do less-detailed questions allow us to do?

Generalize and see connections (easier)

What happens to the rate of solving when we introduce a source problem?

Our rate of solving problems is higher

Without a hint and low surface similarity, do people naturally engage in analytical transfer?

What are surface details?

Content of scenarios

What is structure similarity?

Essence of problem solution is stored

When do we use more analogy?

When there is more uncertainty

What facilitates analogical transfer>

Sleep - time in REM sleep was associated with number of target problems solved

What is the Einstellung effect?

Bias to use familiar methods to solve a problem

What is ridge thinking?

An inability to seek out a better method to solve a given problem

What is functional fixedness?

Inability to see beyond the most common use of particular object

What are the two classic tests of functional fixedness?

Two-string problem and candle problem

What is the two-string problem?

- Two strings are too far apart - need to tie them using other things in the room - Implicit cues helped with solving the problem

What is the candle problem?

Attaching a candle to a wall while also not allowing wax to drip on the table using assortment of items

What is unique about children when it comes to functional fixedness?

Children have less functional fixedness because rigidity use has not been engrained yet - better at solving the tests

What is mental fixedness?

Overusing mental sets - responding with previously learned rule sequences even when they are in appropriate or less productive

What is negative transfer?

Mental fixedness being applied to problems despite it being ineffective

What is the water-jug problem?

Mental set developed function to get desired water amount - from “Die Hard”

What was the result of the water-jug problem?

End problems which can be solved with simpler solutions are still solved with same formula developed despite it being more complex

What is what does productive thinking lead to?

Restructuring the problem -> suddenly solution “a-ha moment”

What is the Gestalt switch?

Experience of having a sudden switch in how you see something

What do we need to get past to have productive thinking? How do we get past it?

Impasse.- need insight to restructure problem

What are the four features of insight?

- Suddenness: solution pops into mind - Ease: solution comes quickly and fluently - Positive: a pleasant experience - Confidence: solution is believed to be the right one

What is the difference between insight and non-insight?

- Insight = involuntary and comes with pleasure - Non-insight = happens more gradually and more aware of incremental success (analogical)

What do warmth ratings predict performance on?

Algebra - NOT insight problems

Why do warmth ratings not predict performance of insight problems?

They are immediate - difficult to visualize with warmth ratings

Is feeling of knowing associated with insight?

What is insight defined by?

The experience (not predictable)

What area is insight linked to in the brain?

Right temporal lobe

Problem Solving Flashcards

(65 cards)