Module 35: Solving Problems and Making Decisions Key Concepts Problem-Solving Strategies Algorithms: Step-by-step procedures guaranteeing a solution.

Module 35: Solving Problems and Making Decisions

Key Concepts

1. Problem-Solving Strategies

   • Algorithms: Step-by-step procedures guaranteeing a solution. Accurate but can be time-consuming.

   • Heuristics: Simple thinking strategies (mental shortcuts). Faster but prone to errors.

   • Insight: Sudden realization of a problem's solution; often feels intuitive.

2. Obstacles to Problem-Solving

   • Confirmation Bias: Tendency to search for evidence supporting preconceptions, ignoring contradictory evidence.

   • Fixation: Inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective.

     • Mental Set: Tendency to approach problems with methods that worked in the past.

     • Functional Fixedness: Inability to see alternative uses for an object.

3. Decision-Making and Judgment

   • Intuition: Fast, automatic, and unconscious thought processes. Useful but can lead to errors.

   • Representativeness Heuristic: Judging likelihood based on how similar something is to a prototype (can lead to ignoring base rates).

   • Availability Heuristic: Estimating likelihood based on how easily instances come to mind (influenced by recency, vividness).

4. Overconfidence and Belief Perseverance

   • Overconfidence: Overestimating the accuracy of personal knowledge and judgments.

   • Belief Perseverance: Holding onto beliefs even after they are discredited.

5. Framing Effect

   • The way an issue is presented can significantly affect decisions and judgments.

   • Example: People prefer "90% survival rate" over "10% mortality rate" even though both are equivalent.

Key Terms

• Algorithm

• Heuristic

• Insight

• Confirmation Bias

• Fixation (Mental Set and Functional Fixedness)

• Representativeness Heuristic

• Availability Heuristic

• Overconfidence

• Belief Perseverance

• Framing Effect

Applications

• Everyday Decisions: Choosing a product based on heuristics.

• Problem-Solving: Recognizing biases in strategies and overcoming fixation.

• Critical Thinking: Avoiding belief perseverance by considering all evidence objectively.

Science Practice Connections

• Apply these concepts to real-world scenarios to recognize biases in problem-solving and decision-making processes.