Problem-solving and IQ

Problem-solving

A cognitive process in which a person reaches a goal by identifying, analyzing, and resolving obstacles or difficulties, and thinking that helps close the gap between a current situation and a desired one.

Steps in Problem-solving

1. Problem identification: recognizing a problem exists

2. Problem definition and understanding: clarifying the problem and identifying goals

3. Strategy formulation: deciding how to approach the problem (e.g., trial and error)

4. Organization of information: sorting relevant from irrelevant information

5. Resource allocation: deciding how much time, effort, and resources to use

6. Monitoring and evaluation: assessing progress and adjusting as needed

7. Solution and verification: implementing the solution and checking if it solves the problem.

Major Problem-solving Strategies

• Trial and error: trying multiple solutions until one works
• Algorithms: step-by-step directions that guarantee a solution
• Heuristics: mental shortcuts that save time but may not always be perfect
• Insight: a sudden "aha" moment
• Analogical thinking: applying knowledge from previous problems to current ones.

Intelligence

The capacity to learn, understand, and apply knowledge and skills, including reasoning, problem-solving, learning from experience, and adapting to new situations.