What is problem solving
Overcoming some obstacle and the process of figuring out how to reach one’s goals, starting from current state
What are well-defined problems
Problems that have a clear goal and usually have a correct answer, that one is certain will lead to a solution
What are ill-defined problems
Problems that do not necessarily have one “correct” answer and there is often no clear path to a solution
What is Gestalt’s view on problem solving
The success in solving a problem depends on how it is represented in the mind and how one’s beliefs and assumptions about a problem influence how they try to solve it
What is restructuring
Change the initial representation of a problem
Restructuring is associated with what
Insight
What is insight
The sudden realization of a problem’s solution
What did Metcalfe & Wiebe 1987 test
“Warmth” when solving non-insight and insight problems
What was “warmth” in Metcalfe & Wiebe 1987
Confidence in getting closer to the answer
What was the progession of “warmth” in Metcalfe & Wiebe 1987
Non-sight problems had a steady increase in “warmth” while with insight problems there was no increase in “warmth” ratings until the solution was discovered
What is a fixation
Obstacle to problem solving
What is functional fixedness
Restricting the use of an object to its familiar functions
What is mental set
The tendency to be fixed on a certain framework, strategy, or procedure, to not see how objects can have more than one function beyond their ordinary one, and not think outside the box
What is negative set
Bias or tendency to solve problems in one particular way
What can cause bias for a negative set to occur
Past experiences or previous learning
Why is one of the criticisms about the gestalt approach that its limited in its applicability
Its really only concerned with insight prblems and many problems do not involve an “insight” to solve but rather implimenting a series of known operations
What does the modern approach of information-processing view do
Extends beyond how people solve insight problems to also focus on other types of problems by problem solving by searching through a problem space
What are the elements to problem solving by searching through a problem space
Initial state, goal state, intermediate states, and operators
What are the aspects of problem solving
Problem space, subgoals, and operators
What is problem space
The domain of the problem and the choices the solver evaluates during solution
What are subgoals
Intermediate states getting closer to the goal
What are operators
Moving to a different state, goverened by the rules
How does the means end analysis work
Determine the difference, find an operator to reduce the difference, and apply the operator
What are some criticisms of the modern approach (information-processing view)
Not applicable to problems for which there are no clear solutions, does not apply to insight problems, and has trouble explaining how the way in which a problem is stated influences problem solving
