Matlin 6e, Ch. 11

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Matlin 6e, Ch. 11
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Understanding the problem

• To understand a problem
• Constructing internal representation that
  corresponds to material in problem
• Need relevant background knowledge

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Understanding the problem

• Need to pay attention to relevant parts of
  problem (and ignore irrelevant parts)
• Methods of representing problem
• Symbols, matrices, diagrams, visual images
• Examples transitivity problem, arrangement
  problems, moat problem

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Understanding the problem

• Contextcognition often tied to a specific
  context, and does not always generalize well to
  other contexts situated cognition (e.g., 10
  year olds in Brazil
• Evolutionary psychology specific problem-solving
  modules in brain evolved for specific problems
  we encountered in our evolutionary history

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Sample problem

• River crossinghobbits/orcs

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Problem-solving strategies

• Hill climbing at each choice point, make choice
  that moves you toward goal
• Weakness sideways or backwards movement
  sometimes required for long-term progress

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Problem-solving strategies

• Means-ends
• Break into subproblems and reduce difference
  between present and goal state
• Can go forwards (start with initial state and
  work toward goal) backwards (opposite)
• Weaknesssame as for hill climbinga move may not
  look like it is decreasing difference between
  present goal, even if it is

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Problem-solving strategies

• Analogy
• First challenge is to understand underlying
  principle of problem
• Find a similar type of problem that you can
  solve, and use that approach on current problem
• People not often good at this unless similarities
  are obvious or are told that there are analogies
  for them to find

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Factors influencing problem solving

• 1. Expertiseways experts differ from novices
• Knowledge base
• Can retrieve solution patterns from LTM
• Their representations capture structural elements
  of problem (not just surface features)

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Factors influencing problem solving

• Planfulnessfiguring out how to figure it out the
  best way
• Detailed, thorough analysis of initial conditions
  of problem
• Speed
• Metacognitionjudging item difficulty, detecting
  errors, time use

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Factors influencing problem solving

• 2. mental setexcess of top-down processing leads
  to expectations that can interfere keep trying
  to apply old solutions to new problem
• 3. functional fixednessnot being able to think
  of object in non-traditional use

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Factors influencing problem solving

• 4. Insight vs. non-insight oriented problems
  insightsudden solution non-insightmore gradual
• Talking way through problem helps more for
  non-insight can interfere with insight oriented
  problems

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Creativity

• Definitions novelty, usefulness beyond this,
  definitions differ
• Divergent production (e.g., how many ways could
  you use a paperclip?) not totally convincing
  that it measures creativity in a useful or
  complete way

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Creativity

• Sternberg Lubartinvestment theory of
  creativity--essential attributes for creativity
  to occur
• Intelligence, knowledge, motivation, encouraging
  environment, appropriate thinking style,
  appropriate personality

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Task motivation creativity

• Extrinsic motivation decreases creativity
  intrinsic works better

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Incubation creativity

• What happens during incubationtime when not
  consciously working on problem? Is unconscious
  problem solving going on? Not necessarily
  could just be allowing an incorrect mental set to
  dissipate and a better problem representation or
  approach occur