PSYC 355 > Problem Solving and Creativity > Flashcards

Problem Solving and Creativity Flashcards

(61 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

Thinking

A

going beyond the info you were given to reach a goal (solution, belief, decision)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

problem solving

A

processes necessary to reach a goal, typically in situations where the solution is not immediately obvious

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 3 parts of problem solving

A

1) initial state
2) goal state
3) obstacles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

initial state

A

situation at the beginning of the problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

goal state

A

when you solve the problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

obstacles

A

restrictions that make it difficult to proceed from the initial state to the goal state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

understanding

A

when you have constructed a well-organized mental representation of the problem based on both the information provided in the problem and your own previous experience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Problem Representation

A

the way you translate the elements of the problem in to a different format

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what do better representations give you?

A

better problem solving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does good working memory help with representations

A

better representations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

symbols

A

using symbols can help us understand problems, but we often use them incorrectly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

matrix

A

a grid consisting of rows and columns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a matrix good for

A
  1. complex problems
  2. categories
  3. info that is stable and does not change over time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

diagrams

A

allow you to represent abstract info in a concrete way and discard unnecessary details

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

hierarchical tree diagram

A

tree-like structure to show various options in a problem which helps you understand a problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

visual images

A

allow us to escape from the boundaries of traditional, concrete representations

also helps construct a figure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

situated cognition approach

A

we use helpful information in our immediate environment to create spatial representations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

embodied cognition

A

use our body and motor actions in order to express our abstract thoughts and knowledge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

how does situated cognition impact our problem solving

A

our ability to solve problems is tied into the specific physical and social context in which we learned to solve that problem (intelligence tests may not represent real world applications of problem solving)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Embodied cognition and problem solving

A

people perform better on tasks when they are allowed to use their hands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

physical priming

A

when solving problems, physical priming can occur when we use our bodies in a particular way which may help us on a later test (swinging our arms in a warm can help us solve a pendulum problem faster)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

algorithm

A

will always produce a solution, but can be inefficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

exhaustive search

A

try out all possible answers using a specified system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what are the benefits and negatives of using heuristics

A

using a heuristic strategy allows you to ignore unlikely alternatives which leads to faster solutions, but may not provide the correct answer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
analogy approach
employ a solution to a similar earlier problem to help you solve a new problem (using birds flight to make planes)
26
problem isomorphs
a set of problems that have the same underlying structures and solutions, but different specific details
27
surface features
specific objects and terms used in the question
28
structural features
underlying core that they must understand in order to solve the problem correctly
29
analogies are challenging for people of what limited skillset?
low metacognitive ability and problem-solving skills
30
what are the 2 steps of the means-end heuristic
1) divide the question into subproblems (smaller problems) 2) reduce the difference between the initial state and goal state for each of the subproblems
31
what does the means-end heuristic require?
identify the final result and figure out the methods that you will use to reach that end
32
what is one of the most effective and flexible problem solving strategies
the means-end heuristic
33
what are some challenges people face with the means-end heuristic
people are reluctant to move away from the goal state even if the solution requires you to go backwards
34
computer simulation
write a computer program that will perform a task in the same way a human would
35
General Problem Solver (GPS)
a program whose basic-strategy is means-end analysis
36
the hil climbing heuristic
when you reach a choice point, you consistently choose the alternative that seems to lead most directly toward your goal
37
when is the hill climbing heuristic useful and not
useful when you do not have enough info about your alternatives can lead you astray, the indirect alternative may have greater long-term benefits encourages short term goals vs long term solutions
38
expertise
demonstrates consistently exceptional skill and performance on representative tasks for a particular area
39
knowledge base and expertise
you need the appropriate schemas in order to understand a topic properly novices do not have the appropriate knowledge to solve certain problems
40
memory and expertise
experts memory is only better if it fits into a particular schema
41
Problem Solving Strategies and expertise
experts more likely to use means-ends heuristic effectively also approach systematically and see structural similarities with analogies
42
metacognitive skills and expertise
experts are better at monitoring their problem solving (better at judging difficulty and allocating time)
43
Mental set
keep trying the same solution used in previous problems even though you could solve it with a different easier method (overactive top-down processing)
44
Fixed Mindset
when you believe that you possess a certain amount of intelligence and other skills and no amount of effort can help you perform better
45
growth mindset
when you beleive that you can cultivate your intelligence and other skills
46
functional fixedness
tend to assign stable functions to ab object (can't see uses of an object beyond our fixed view of it)
47
stereotype threat
if you are a minority who experiences stereotypes and you think about your membership in that group, your performance may suffer
48
research of math tests with Asian-American Females
when reminded of thir ethnicity they perform better and when they are reminded of their gender they perform worse
49
expanations for stereotype threat
increased adrenaline/anxiety from stereotype threat may reduce working memory capacity suppressing thoughts also taxes working memory therefore reduces ability to construct problem-solving strategies
50
Insight problem
initially seems impossible to solve, but then an alternative approach suddenly bursts into your consciousness and you realize that solution is correct
51
what makes it easier to use insight
large working memory capacity
52
non insight problem
solve gradually using memory, reasoning, and a routine set of strategies
53
what does solving an insight problem inspire?
a dramatic increase in confidence
54
Creativity
requires solutions that are both novel and useful
55
divergent production
the number of different responses made to a test item
56
convergent production
must supply a single, best response
57
what are the 3 characteristics of creativity
1. includes convergent thinking and divergent thinking 2. distributed throughout the right and left hemisphere 3. occurs when we use focused attention as well as defocused attention
58
extrinsic motivation
motivation when you are promised a reward
59
intrinsic motivation
working on it for your own interest, or personal challenge
60
motivations and impact on creativity
extrinsic leads to less creative intrinsic leads to more creative
61
are perserverence and self-efficacy linked to creativity?
perserverence is not, but self-efficacy is
PSYC 355
flashcards
Decks in class (14)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions