Problem Solving (pg. 473-499)

What did Kohler's chimpanzee study show about problem solving?

Chimps used insight (not trial-and-error) by stacking boxes or using sticks to get bananas, showing goal-directed, thoughtful behavior.

What is the difference between surface and deep structure in analogies?

• Surface Structure: The Specific details of a problem 

• Deep Structure: the underlying relationships or logic-  how elements are connected;, important to problem solving

What’s the solution to Dunker’s Tumor Problem?

Use multiple weak rays from different angles to destroy the tumor without harming healthy tissue.

What does the Tower of Hanoi illustrate?

Problem solving as moving through a space of possible states from start to goal using rules.

What is hill climbing in Tower of Hanoi?

Always moving closer to the goal — can fail if backward moves are needed.

What is means-end analysis in Tower of Hanoi?

Set sub-goals like clearing smaller disks to move the largest one.

What role does mental imagery play in the Tower of Hanoi?

Visualizing disk positions helps plan moves and avoid errors.

What is functional fixedness?

Being stuck on an object’s usual use and failing to see its alternative function.

What does the Candle Problem show?

We struggle to see the tack box as a platform instead of just a container.

What’s the solution to the Two String Problem?

Use the pliers as a pendulum weight to swing one string and grab the other.

What is the 'aha!' experience?

A sudden realization or insight when the solution becomes clear all at once.

What was Archimedes' insight about the crown?

He used water displacement to test density — showing insight-based problem solving.

What is restructuring in problem solving?

Reorganizing how you mentally represent a problem — can lead to insight.

How do insight problems differ from non-insight problems?

Insight = sudden solution; Non-insight = slow, step-by-step reasoning.

What did Schooler et al. (1993) find about verbalizing during problem solving?

Verbalizing hurt insight problem solving but helped logical (non-insight) problems.

How do experts (chess players) think differently according to Gobet et al. (2001)?

They use chunking and pattern recognition to store info in long-term memory.

What did Myles-Worsley et al. (1988) find about expertise and memory?

Radiology experts had better recognition for abnormal X-rays, not for unrelated images like faces.

What did Beck et al. (2013) find about expertise in radiology?

Experts had better visual attention and working memory for task-relevant info.

What did Bilalić et al. (2019) find regarding chess experts and 'aha' experiences?

Experts solved problems better but had fewer aha! moments because they already used effective strategies like visual parity.

What is domain-specificity in expertise?

Expertise is limited to trained areas unless the new task uses similar skills or general cognitive abilities.

What is the Einstellung effect?

Sticking to familiar problem-solving methods even when better ones exist.

What is creativity in problem solving?

Generating new and useful ideas using divergent and convergent thinking.

What is incubation in the context of problem solving?

Taking a break from a problem to allow unconscious processing, which can lead to insight.