Psy 348 Problem solving components

            Difficult issue – what qualifies as a “problem?”

                        --Depends in large part on one’s values/interests/desires:  What is this?

            Types of problems:  well- versus ill-structured.  Which is more common in “real” life?

            Domain-specific information versus general information.

            Experts often have considerable knowledge in both kinds of information

                – they are often superb problem solvers in their area of expertise,

                – also often quite creative

these attributes seem to be related to available domain-specific knowledge

 as well as to “general” knowledge.

            Formal academic training often emphases domain-specific knowledge,

                but seriously neglects general knowledge. 

            Insight – the Gestaltists –Kohler’s apes – incubation

Components in problem solving (these are usually partially sequential, but also recursive)  

            Identification – recognize and correctly specify the problem & its contributing factors

                        often hard to realize that there is a “problem” – e.g., incipient sexism, racism, etc.

                                    – not knowing that I do not know

                                    – this can include delusion– e.g., thinking that I “know” when in fact I do not.

            Definition – two possible errors:

                        overly narrow, hence I solve the wrong “problem”

                        or else find myself hemmed in and unable to do anything

                                    (c.f., “mental set” & “functional fixedness” – see notes below)

            Strategy –

                        Algorithms – clear set of rules that lead to a solution by simply following prescribed steps

                                    Always lead to a correct solution

                                    Not subject to personal biases, interpretations, etc – they work the same for everyone

                                    May be complicated &/or slow

                                    Many problems (e.g., personal & social relations) do not have algorithms

                        Heuristics – informal strategies without clear rules or sequence

                                    Usually provide quick solution

                                    Solution may be incorrect or unsatisfactory

                                    Subject to personal experiences, biases etc – different people may have different heuristics

                        Analysis/Synthesis

                        Divergent thinking/Convergent thinking

            Organization – often depends on type of task/problem; many of us are poor organizers, hence, although

we are “smart,” we often fail to succeed at a high level

            Resource allocation – Exceedingly important issue – experts/high performers tend to go for/ spend more

time on “global” planning in the initial stages and then the rest often follow relatively quickly;

novices/poorer performers tend to zoom to details & specifics, and hence take longer and with

poorer results.  C.f., planning a research project (lit review, hypothesis development) versus

implementing a project (development of a specific method, gathering & analyzing data . . .)

            Monitoring – An on-going process. Two questions:  Am I progressing toward the solution/goal according

                        to my plan (c.f., “staying on task”)?  Is my plan flawed, and there is a better way to do this (But

                        careful – switching track is a very serious decision & usually entails some version of starting over).

            Evaluation – note similarity to monitoring, except that it usually occurs at particular points in the process

                        rather than continuously.  Obviously occurs at the end, but watch:  that may be too late --  “Uh oh.”

                        Better to have some built-in evaluations along the way.  Re: writing a major paper: 

                        1 – do I have plenty of good sources & good notes? 

                        2 – do I have a good sense of my main points, & do the “main points” include arguments against my position?

                        3 – do I have a draft prior to the final version & what are the strengths/weaknesses of that draft? 

                        4 – do I like the final version, or are there some “fine-tunings” that would improve it?

            Obstacles:

                        Ignorance!  This is a giant – Buddhists list it as the “ultimate” obstacle for all of us . . .

                                    “One who knows not, and knows not that she knows not . . .”

                        Mental set – Strategy worked in the past, but fails in the present situation

                                    Luchins’ “water jar problems” – repeat successful strategy, even when it’s wrong

                        Functional fixedness – Dunckers – become “fixed” on a particular use of something,

                                    and thus fail to realize that it could also be used for a different purpose

                                    (many entertaining & practical versions of this phenomenon)

                        Stereotypes – applies across social categories

                                    Osama bin Laden; oldest woman in U.S. to bear a child; etc

                        Positive transfer – solution of one problem makes it easier to solve a new, similar one

                        Negative transfer – solving one problem makes it difficult to solve a new one

                                    c.f., mental set & functional fixedness