Problem Solving And Decision Making

1
Problem Solving And Decision Making

• Chapter 8

2
Definition

• Problem solving refers to active efforts to
  discover what must be done to achieve a goal that
  is not readily attainable.

3
Types of Problems (Greeno)

• Problems of Inducing Structure
• Problems of Arrangement
• Problems of Transformation

4
Approaches to Problem Solving

• Trial Error
• Heuristics
• Forming Subgoals (Tower of Hanoi)
• Working Backwards (Water Lilies)
• Using Analogies (Tumor)
• Reenvisioning the Problem

5
Barriers to Effective Problem Solving

• Irrelevant (Distracting) Information
• Functional Fixedness (Screw Driver)
• Mental Set
• Unnecessary Constraints

6
Decision Making

• Two types of decisions
• Making choices (selecting among alternatives)
• Taking chances (deciding amidst uncertainty)

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Selecting Among Alternatives

• Strategies
• Additive
• Subtractive (Elimination of Aspects)

8
Making Risky Decisions

• Risky Decisions (Tversky Kahneman)
• Factors Influencing Risky Decisions
• Using Probabilities
• Expected Value
• Subjective Utility
• Factors that Affect Probability Estimates
• Heuristics
• Availability
• Representativeness
• Ignoring Base Rates
• The Conjunction Fallacy
• Alternative Outcomes Effect
• Framing the Question

9
Humans as Decision Makers

• Classic View
• Irrational
• Prone to errors mistakes
• Mentally limited

• Evolutionary View
• Specialized cognition is adaptive
• Rational
• Fast and Frugal heuristics work

Dual Process Theories
Intuitive Thinking Rational Thinking
10
Reducing Regret after Decisions
Told next person tasks were fun and interesting
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Asked how much they enjoyed experiment
Boring Tasks
Told next person tasks were fun and interesting
11
Making Decisions in Groups

• Group Polarization
• Groupthink

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Group Polarization
Group Polarization- tendency to shift toward
more extreme positions after group discussion
13
Groupthink

• Groupthink- syndrome of bad decision-making

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