Chapter 8: Problem Solving
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Card preview (19)
Analogy
Book definition: “The process by which a problem solver maps the solution for one problem into a solution for another problem. (p. 188)”
Backup avoidance
Book definition: “The tendency in problem solving to avoid operators that take one back to a state already visited. (p. 191)”
Difference reduction
Book definition: “The tendency in problem solving to select operators that eliminate a difference between the current state and the goal. (p. 192)”
Einstellung effect
Book definition: “The term used by Luchins to refer to the set effect, in which people repeat a solution that has worked for previous problems even when a simpler solution is possible. (p. 203)”
Functional fixedness
Book definition: “The tendency to see objects only as serving conventional problem-solving functions and thus failing to see that they can serve novel functions. (p. 202)”
General Problem Solver (GPS)
Book definition: “A problem-solving simulation program created by Newell and Simon that embodies means-end analysis. (p. 194)”
Goal state
Book definition: “A state in a problem space in which the goal is satisfied. (p. 183)”
Hill climbing
Book definition: “The tendency to choose operators in problem solving that transform the current state into a new state more similar to the goal. (p. 192)”
Incubation effects
Book definition: “The phenomenon that sometimes a solution to a particular problem comes more easily after a period of time in which one has stopped trying to solve the problem. (p. 204)”
Insight problem
Book definition: “A problem in which the subject is not aware of being close to the solution. (p. 206)”
Means-end analysis
Book definition: “The creation of a new goal (end) to enable a problem-solving operator (means) to apply in achieving the old goal. (p. 192)”.
Operator
Book definition: “A term used in problem-solving research to refer to a particular action that will transform the problem state into another problem state. The solution of an overall problem is a sequence of these known operators. (p. 183)”
Problem space
Book definition: “A representation of the various sequences of problem-solving operators that lead among various states of a problem. Also called state space. (p. 183)”
Search
Book definition: “The process by which one finds a sequence of operators to solve a problem. (p. 183)”
Search tree
Book definition: “A representation of the set of states that can be reached by applying operators to an initial state. (p. 185)”
Set effect
Book definition: “The biasing of a solution to a problem as a result of past experiences in solving that kind of problem. (p. 202)”
State
Book definition: “A term in problem solving used to refer to a representation of the problem in some degree of solution. (p. 183)”
Subgoal
Book definition: “A goal set in service of achieving a larger goal. (p. 183)”
Tower of Hanoi problem
Book definition: “A problem-solving task in which disks are moved among pegs. (p. 196)”