Problem Solving (pg. 473-499)

Q: What did Kohler's chimpanzee study show about problem solving?
A: Chimps used insight (not trial-and-error) by stacking boxes or using sticks to get bananas, showing goal-directed, thoughtful behavior.

Q: What is the difference between surface and deep structure in analogies?
A: Surface = details; Deep = underlying logic. Deep structure is key for successful problem solving.

Q: What’s the solution to Dunker’s Tumor Problem?
A: Use multiple weak rays from different angles to destroy the tumor without harming healthy tissue.

Q: What does the Tower of Hanoi illustrate?
A: Problem solving as moving through a space of possible states from start to goal using rules.

Q: Hill climbing in Tower of Hanoi?
A: Always moving closer to the goal — can fail if backward moves are needed.

Q: Means-end analysis in Tower of Hanoi?
A: Set sub-goals like clearing smaller disks to move the largest one.

Q: Mental imagery in Tower of Hanoi?
A: Visualizing disk positions helps plan moves and avoid errors.

Q: What is functional fixedness?
A: Being stuck on an object’s usual use and failing to see its alternative function.

Q: What does the Candle Problem show?
A: We struggle to see the tack box as a platform instead of just a container.

Q: What’s the solution to the Two String Problem?
A: Use the pliers as a pendulum weight to swing one string and grab the other.

Q: What is the “aha!” experience?
A: A sudden realization or insight when the solution becomes clear all at once.

Q: What was Archimedes' insight about the crown?
A: He used water displacement to test density — showing insight-based problem solving.

Q: What is restructuring in problem solving?
A: Reorganizing how you mentally represent a problem — can lead to insight.

Q: Insight vs. Non-insight problems?
A: Insight = sudden solution; Non-insight = slow, step-by-step reasoning.

Q: What did Schooler et al. (1993) find about verbalizing during problem solving?
A: Verbalizing hurt insight problem solving but helped logical (non-insight) problems.

Q: How do experts (chess players) think differently? (Gobet et al., 2001)
A: They use chunking and pattern recognition to store info in long-term memory.

Q: What did Myles-Worsley et al. (1988) find about expertise and memory?
A: Radiology experts had better recognition for abnormal X-rays, not for unrelated images like faces.

Q: Beck et al. (2013) and expertise in radiology?
A: Experts had better visual attention and working memory for task-relevant info.

Q: Bilalić et al. (2019): Chess experts and "aha" experiences?
A: Experts solved problems better but had fewer aha! moments because they already used effective strategies like visual parity.

Q: What is domain-specificity in expertise?
A: Expertise is limited to trained areas unless the new task uses similar skills or general cognitive abilities.

Q: What is the Einstellung effect?
A: Sticking to familiar problem-solving methods even when better ones exist.

Q: What is creativity in problem solving?
A: Generating new and useful ideas using divergent and convergent thinking.

Q: What is incubation?
A: Taking a break from a problem to allow unconscious processing, which can lead to insight.