Problem 8
Eysenck, Matlin, Riegler, Sternberg
Article: how minimal executive feedback influences creative idea generation by Ezzat, Camarda et
al.
Case A and B – problem solving
3 MAJOR ASPECTS TO PROBLEM-SOLVING:
- It is purposeful (goal-directed)
- Involves controlled processes and it not reliant on automatic processes
- A problem exists when someone lacks the relevant knowledge to produce an immediate
solution
THE PROBLEM-SOLVING CYCLE
- Problem identification: do we have a problem?
- Problem definition: what is the problem?
- Strategy formulation: how can we solve this problem? Analysis (breaking down) and
synthesis (putting together)
o Divergent thinking: generate a diverse assortment of possible solutions
o Convergent thinking: narrow down the multiple possibilities to converge on the
best answer
- Organization of information: how do pieces of the problem fit together?
- Allocation of resources: how much time, effort and money should I put into this?
- Monitoring: am I on track?
- Evaluation: did I solve the problem correctly?
- There is flexibility in the cycle and we can change the order of the steps or add/skip steps
METHODS OF REPRESENTING PROBLEMS:
- Symbols: used for abstract problems
- Matrices: grid consisting of columns and rows, shows all possible combinations, good way
to keep track of items if the problem is complex
- Diagrams: useful when you want to represent a large amount of information
- Visual images: provides advantage for problems which require constructing figures
TYPES OF PROBLEMS
Well-defined problems: all aspects of the problem are clearly specified, including the initial
state/situation, the range of possible moves and the goal/solution e.g. chess
Ill-defined problems: underspecified
- Most everyday problems are ill-defined but psychologists have focused on well-defined
problems
- Mistakes people make when solving well-defined problems:
o Carelessly moving backwards: revert to a state that’s further than the goal
o Making illegal moves: a move that is not permitted according to the terms of the
problem
o Not realizing the nature of the next legal move: they become stuck not knowing
what to do next
Knowledge rich problems: can be solved by those having much relevant specific
knowledge
, Knowledge-lean problems: don’t require such knowledge because most of the information
needed to solve the problem is contained in the initial problem statement
- Most traditional research focuses on knowledge-lean problems because they minimize
individual differences in relevant knowledge
Routine problems: can be solved by applying well-practiced procedures
Nonroutine problems: more challenging than routine problems because you are dealing
with the problem for the first time
SITUATED COGNITION AND EMBODIED COGNITION APPROACHES
- Situated cognition approach: we use information in our immediate environment to create
spatial representations
- Embodied cognition approach: we use our own body and motor actions to express our
abstract thoughts and knowledge
- Both approaches are often used in solving problems
GESTALT APPROACH: INSIGHT AND ROLE OF EXPERIENCE
Reproductive thinking: involves the systematic reuse of previous experiences
Productive thinking: involves a novel restructuring of the problem and is more complex
Insight problem
- The problem initially seems impossible to solve
- Then you suddenly reconstruct the problem by a sudden comprehension, realization or
solution
- Top-down processing may prevent you from solving an insight problem
Non-insight problem
- You solve the problem gradually, by using your memory, reasoning skills, and a routine set
of strategies
- This type benefits from top-down processing
Facilitating insight:
- Hints:
o Hints increase the number of solutions produced on insight problems
o Even subtle hints are useful
- Incubation:
o A problem is put aside for some time
o Subconscious mind continues to work towards a solution during incubation and so
it facilitates solutions
o Findings: incubation effect are reported in 73% of studies, the effects are larger
when there is a longer preparation time prior to incubation, effects are stronger
when there are multiple solutions
o Often called “sleeping on a problem”
Representational Change Theory by Ohlsson
- Sometimes we encounter a block when solving a problem because we have represented it
wrongly
- According to the theory, we need to change the problem presentation for insight to occur
- This can be done in 3 ways:
Eysenck, Matlin, Riegler, Sternberg
Article: how minimal executive feedback influences creative idea generation by Ezzat, Camarda et
al.
Case A and B – problem solving
3 MAJOR ASPECTS TO PROBLEM-SOLVING:
- It is purposeful (goal-directed)
- Involves controlled processes and it not reliant on automatic processes
- A problem exists when someone lacks the relevant knowledge to produce an immediate
solution
THE PROBLEM-SOLVING CYCLE
- Problem identification: do we have a problem?
- Problem definition: what is the problem?
- Strategy formulation: how can we solve this problem? Analysis (breaking down) and
synthesis (putting together)
o Divergent thinking: generate a diverse assortment of possible solutions
o Convergent thinking: narrow down the multiple possibilities to converge on the
best answer
- Organization of information: how do pieces of the problem fit together?
- Allocation of resources: how much time, effort and money should I put into this?
- Monitoring: am I on track?
- Evaluation: did I solve the problem correctly?
- There is flexibility in the cycle and we can change the order of the steps or add/skip steps
METHODS OF REPRESENTING PROBLEMS:
- Symbols: used for abstract problems
- Matrices: grid consisting of columns and rows, shows all possible combinations, good way
to keep track of items if the problem is complex
- Diagrams: useful when you want to represent a large amount of information
- Visual images: provides advantage for problems which require constructing figures
TYPES OF PROBLEMS
Well-defined problems: all aspects of the problem are clearly specified, including the initial
state/situation, the range of possible moves and the goal/solution e.g. chess
Ill-defined problems: underspecified
- Most everyday problems are ill-defined but psychologists have focused on well-defined
problems
- Mistakes people make when solving well-defined problems:
o Carelessly moving backwards: revert to a state that’s further than the goal
o Making illegal moves: a move that is not permitted according to the terms of the
problem
o Not realizing the nature of the next legal move: they become stuck not knowing
what to do next
Knowledge rich problems: can be solved by those having much relevant specific
knowledge
, Knowledge-lean problems: don’t require such knowledge because most of the information
needed to solve the problem is contained in the initial problem statement
- Most traditional research focuses on knowledge-lean problems because they minimize
individual differences in relevant knowledge
Routine problems: can be solved by applying well-practiced procedures
Nonroutine problems: more challenging than routine problems because you are dealing
with the problem for the first time
SITUATED COGNITION AND EMBODIED COGNITION APPROACHES
- Situated cognition approach: we use information in our immediate environment to create
spatial representations
- Embodied cognition approach: we use our own body and motor actions to express our
abstract thoughts and knowledge
- Both approaches are often used in solving problems
GESTALT APPROACH: INSIGHT AND ROLE OF EXPERIENCE
Reproductive thinking: involves the systematic reuse of previous experiences
Productive thinking: involves a novel restructuring of the problem and is more complex
Insight problem
- The problem initially seems impossible to solve
- Then you suddenly reconstruct the problem by a sudden comprehension, realization or
solution
- Top-down processing may prevent you from solving an insight problem
Non-insight problem
- You solve the problem gradually, by using your memory, reasoning skills, and a routine set
of strategies
- This type benefits from top-down processing
Facilitating insight:
- Hints:
o Hints increase the number of solutions produced on insight problems
o Even subtle hints are useful
- Incubation:
o A problem is put aside for some time
o Subconscious mind continues to work towards a solution during incubation and so
it facilitates solutions
o Findings: incubation effect are reported in 73% of studies, the effects are larger
when there is a longer preparation time prior to incubation, effects are stronger
when there are multiple solutions
o Often called “sleeping on a problem”
Representational Change Theory by Ohlsson
- Sometimes we encounter a block when solving a problem because we have represented it
wrongly
- According to the theory, we need to change the problem presentation for insight to occur
- This can be done in 3 ways:
