Problem Solving in Psychology

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to problem-solving as discussed in PSY 311.

Problem

An obstacle between a present state and a goal state.

Insight Problems

Problems that involve a sudden realization of the solution.

Non-Insight Problems

Problems that require steady work towards a solution.

Metcalfe and Wiebe (1987)

Researchers who studied insight and non-insight problems, including warmth judgments.

Arrangement Problems

Problems that require rearranging elements of the problem.

Functional Fixedness

Restricting the use of an object to its familiar functions.

Inducing Structure Problems

Problems that require finding patterns among a fixed set of relations.

Transformation Problems

Problems where the solver moves from an initial state to a goal state using operations.

Algorithms

Rules that, if followed, will always solve a problem.

Heuristics

A 'shortcut' strategy that often, but not always, works to solve a problem.

Means-end Analysis

A strategy to reduce differences between the initial and goal states by creating subgoals.

Mental Set

The tendency to use the same method to solve problems based on past experiences.

Mutilated-checkerboard Problem

A problem that illustrates the importance of how a problem is stated.

Duncker’s Radiation Problem

An example of how analogies can aid in problem-solving.