Section 3: Attention, Problem Solving, Decision Making

Question 1

What does “problem solving and creativity” examine?

Answer 1

How people approach and resolve issues, including cognitive strategies and creative thinking.

Question 2

What did Gestalt psychologists emphasize about problem solving?

Answer 2

The whole pattern matters; seeing the whole improves clarity in solving.

Question 3

What is insight?

Answer 3

Sudden realization of a solution, often linked to creativity.

Question 4

What is fixation?

Answer 4

Inability to view a problem from a new perspective.

Question 5

What is functional fixation?

Answer 5

Difficulty seeing alternative uses for familiar objects, harming problem-solving.

Question 6

What did Duncker contribute?

Answer 6

The candle problem demonstrating functional fixation.

Question 7

What did Adamson contribute?

Answer 7

Supported findings on fixation and the need to restructure problem representations.

Question 8

What did Maier study?

Answer 8

Insight problems and how breaking assumptions helps solve them.

Question 9

What did Luchins demonstrate?

Answer 9

Set effects: prior strategies can trap people into inefficient problem-solving.

Question 10

What is the Tower of Hanoi (Newell & Simon context)?

Answer 10

A planning/goal-oriented task showing rule-based strategies and stepwise problem solving.

Question 11

What did Kaplan & Simon study?

Answer 11

How structured presentation of problems affects solution strategies.

Question 12

What is a think-aloud protocol?

Answer 12

Participants verbalize thoughts during tasks to reveal cognitive strategies.

Question 13

What is analogical transfer?

Answer 13

Applying knowledge from one domain to solve a problem in another.

Question 14

What is incubation?

Answer 14

Taking a break can improve later problem solving (often supports insight).

Question 15

What is analogical coding?

Answer 15

Recognizing relationships across problems to improve problem-solving efficiency.

Question 16

What is the trade-off strategy?

Answer 16

Weighing pros and cons to optimize satisfaction/choice quality.

Question 17

What is the contingency strategy?

Answer 17

Adjusting approach based on feedback and situational demands.

Question 18

What is in-vivo problem-solving research?

Answer 18

Studying problem solving in real-world settings for natural behavior.

Question 19

How do experts differ from novices in problem solving?

Answer 19

Experts use organized knowledge structures/strategies and evaluate faster; novices rely more on trial and error.

Question 20

What is Basadur et al.’s four-stage model?

Answer 20

Problem generation → problem formulation → problem solving → solution implementation (cyclical creative problem solving).

Question 21

What did the Finke experiment explore?

Answer 21

Idea generation and how tasks can stimulate creativity by challenging conventional thinking.

Question 22

What is the default mode network?

Answer 22

Brain network involved in self-referential thinking and creativity; active during mind-wandering/idea generation.

Question 23

What is the executive control network?

Answer 23

Brain network engaged in goal-directed decision-making and problem solving; coordinates other regions.