Cog - Lectures 18/19 - Problem Solving

Problem solving

going from a problem to goal state

if you aren’t able to generalize the solution to a problem, it’s hard to…

learn from your mistakes

T/F: You can only apply algorithms to well-defined problems

T, applying them to ill-defined problems won’t help in finding a solution

puzzles are an example of…

well-defined problems

making new friends is an example of…

an ill-defined problem

in a study she performed, participants with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) described more ____ to solve the problem they were given

irrelevant steps

in the ZJAZ study, ppl in the ill-defined condition had greater activity in the…

right lateral prefrontal cortex

why do ill-defined problems cause more cognitive load?

you’re brain is trying to figure out what the problem is, what steps to take, and what the solution looks like

overall: a lot of mental clutter in your working memory

cognitive load

the amount of mental effort being used in working memory

AI is good for solving…

well-defined problems

Moravec’s paradox

things that are easy for humans are hard for computers and vice versa

”A computer can do math really fast (faster than most everyone), but it struggles performing tasks that are more so mindless to us like recognizing faces” is an example of …

Moravec’s paradox

problem space

the mental space in your brain that includes all the possible ways to go from the problem to the solution

intermediate paths

the sub-goals you take between the start and solution of a problem

operators

the actions (moves) you use to get from one step to another

Ex. In solving a Rubik’s cube, every turn of the sides or layers is an example of an…

operator

task constraints

rules/limitations that make the problem harder

brute force

trial and error, but make it organized

Ex. you have a lock with a 3 digit code but you forgot the code (oh no!) so you try 001, then 002, then 003, until you get to 721 which unlocks it!

This is an example of…

Brute force

Trial and error

trying different options randomly or experimentally until you reach your goal

Ex. you have a lock with a 3 digit code but you forgot the code (oh no!) so you try 853, then 959, then 624, until you get to 721 which unlocks it!

This is an example of…

trial and error

what are heuristics in problem solving?

smart shortcuts that help you solve problems faster w/o checking every option

there are 2 types of heuristics in problem solving, they are…

Hill-climbing strategy, Means end analysis

Hill climbing strategy

choosing the operation that brings you closer to the goal

the hill climbing strategy can lead to …

a local maxima

local maxima

a sub goal mistaken as the final goal

foot hill

when you think you’ve reached the best solution, but you’re actually stuck at a small, easy solution instead of the best one

Means end analysis

small steps to get closer to the goal, may require moving backwards

the means end analysis includes identifying ____ to complete the goal

sub problems

recursion

breaking a problem down into smaller problems until you’ve hit the smallest and working your way back up from there

how does recursion differ from the means end analysis?

recursion - breaking down in a line from biggest to smallest problem

means end - branching off initial problem into sub problems that don’t need to be related

concurrent verbalizations

describe what you’re doing as you’re doing it (used in the lab, or when I’m feeling overwhelmed)

retrospective verbalizations

describe what you did after the fact

retrospective verbalizations are influenced by…

metacognitive processes

metacognition

thinking-about-your-own-thinking, you notice what your brain is doing, reflecting on your thinking

the phrase “in retrospect…” demonstrates…

metacognition

T/F: experts use the same rules or strategies as novices when solving a problem, they’re just able to do it faster

F, experts use better rules/strategies when problem solving

T/F: Experts spend more time working on the problem while novices spend more time trying to correctly define the problem

F, it’s actually vice versa as shown in the Arts/Science study

T/F: Experts represent a problem differently

T, they see patterns and organize info more efficiently based on their experience, allowing them to problem solve faster and more accurately

In the x-ray study, how did expert radiologists differ from medical students?

fewer eye movements bc they viewed the x-rays more holistically (seeing the big picture at once)

T/F: Experts engage the same brain processes to view a problem as novices

F, novices activate the L-hem, while experts activate R-hem

T/F: Even though they didn’t have as many eye movements, experts were able to engage with the chest x-rays on a deeper level

T

T/F: An expert chess player is better at chunking checkers on a board better than novices

F, expertise is NOT generalized

Which has more task constraints? Ill-defined problem/Well-defined problem

Well-defined problems

Which is more ambiguous? Ill-defined problems/Well-defined problems

Ill-defined

For ill-defined problems, we use _______ to create simulations of hypothetical goal states/solutions

episodic memory

Analogical problem solving

when you solve a new problem by comparing it to a past problem you’ve already solved

In analogical problem, there are 2 types of problems, they’re called

target problem & source problem

Target problem

the problem at hand

Source problem

the old problem you already solved

the tumour problem is an example of a…

target problem

the fortress problem is an example of a…

source problem

surface details

content of scenarios

structural similarity

what makes a past solution transferable to a new problem

_____ leads to more creative analogical transfer

structural similarity

_____ boosts creativity and analogical transfer

sleep, but specifically rem sleep

Einstellung effect

getting stuck using the same solution when there are better alternatives

_____ causes the Einstellung effect

rigid thinking

Rigid thinking

the inability to seek out a better method to solve a given problem

you can think of rigid thinking as someone who is _____

stubborn

functional fixedness

not seeing beyond the most common use of a particular object

Getting inspiration from 5-minute crafts will help you overcome…

functional fixedness

The two-string problem is an example of…

functional fixedness

T/F: Hints help the 2-string problem

T, the researchers doing a swinging motion gave them a hint that something should be swinging

the candle problem is an example of _____ and why

functional fixedness, bc not many ppl see that the match box can be used as a platform for the candle

the children that were NOT ____ to the objects were able to solve the candle problem

pre-utilized, meaning they do not have any experience with the objects

alternate uses task

give participants a common object, ask them to “name all the alternative uses you can do with this object”

mental fixedness

hung up on your standard way of doing smth (solving a problem, or engaging in a task)

how can mental fixedness affect the quality of a solution?

it can prevent us from finding the optimal solution by making us stop at the local maxima

mental fixedness and functional fixedness are very similar, but how do you differentiate them?

MF: getting stuck using the same strategy across problems

FF: getting stuck thinking an object can only be used for it’s “main” function

productive thinking

the process of forming new pattern of ways to view a problem

reproductive thinking

solving a problem by reusing past solutions or methods

insight problems

a problem that needs a sudden “aha!” moment to solve it — the solution isn’t obvious at first

mental impasse

when you get stuck during problem solving bc you can’t find a solution or a new way to move forward — like a mental block

you need insight to overcome a mental impasse by…

restricting the problem

4 features of insight:

Suddenness - solutions pop into mind

Ease - solution comes quickly & fluently

Positive - a pleasant experience, even before assessing if the solution is effective

Confidence - solution is believed to be the right one

in insight problem solving, the answer comes to you suddenly, like a ______

lightbulb moment

non-insight problem solving

you solve it step-by-step, using logic or a clear method

“we’re able to realize when we’ve come close to figuring out a problem”

This is an example of a…

non-insight problem, as shown in the warmth rating study

feeling of knowing is associated with …

non-insight problems

“Hmmm… this strategy isn’t working. Maybe I should try a different one.” Is _____ at play

metacognition

Insight and creativity seems to be important in the ____ hemisphere

Right

Stimulating the ____ improves performance on creativity problem solving tasks (according to a study)

Anterior Temporal Lobe

Remote Associates Task (RAT)

You give participants 3 words, then ask them for a fourth word that relates them all

T/F: Sitting and fully thinking about the problem can improve insight

F, a study showed that walking/movement helped with finding solutions to insight problems

Divergent thinking

coming up with lots of different ideas or solutions to a problem (brainstorming)

Convergent thinking

narrowing down to find the best answer to a problem (MC test)

In a study about functional fixedness, walking/movement helped participants in the ______ condition

divergent thinking

Insight and Analogical Problem Solving are _____ (good/bad) to solve ill-defined problems

they help you connect info in new ways