Question 1

In solving a problem, participants seem to develop a certain attitude or perspective, and they then approach all subsequent problems with the same attitude. This rigidity in approach is often called:

Accepted Answer

The rigidity in approach that develops after solving a problem and is then applied to all subsequent problems is called Einstellung. It can sometimes lead to the individual overlooking simpler or more efficient solutions because of their pre-existing perspective. Transfer generally refers to applying knowledge or skills learned in one situation to another situation, and mental inhibition is the tendency to get stuck on one approach even when it is not working. Zeitgeist refers to the prevailing cultural, political, or intellectual climate of a given time.

Question 2

Participants approach a problem with certain assumptions about how the problem should be handled and the sorts of strategies that are likely to be productive. These assumptions are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Participants approach a problem with certain assumptions...

Question 3

One way to turn an ill-defined question into a well-defined question is to:

Accepted Answer

By adding constraints or assumptions to the problem, the question becomes more specific and easier to answer. This creates more structure and clarity around what needs to be solved.

Question 4

A group of participants has just completed a series of problems involving water jars. In each problem, the participants needed to fill the largest jar, pour from it once into the middle-sized jar, and then pour from the largest jar twice into the smallest jar. The participants are now given a new problem, which cannot be solved via this procedure. We would expect that the participants will:

Accepted Answer

The participants are likely to have difficulty with the new problem because they have become locked into the procedure they had used successfully in the previous problems. This is known as cognitive fixation or functional fixedness, where a person becomes fixated on a familiar procedure or use of an object and cannot see alternative solutions or uses. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 5

A group of participants is interrupted while working on a problem. The participants then spend some time on an unrelated task, and, finally, they return to the initial problem. Studies of this sort show that the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of participants is interrupted while...

Question 6

An ill-defined problem is defined as one in which:

Accepted Answer

The answer of An ill-defined problem is defined as one...

Question 7

In some procedures, participants are helped by an interruption during their attempts at solving a problem. In explaining this effect, which of the following hypotheses seems LEAST plausible in light of the available evidence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In some procedures, participants are helped by...

Question 8

Compared to novices, chess experts are MORE likely to have:

Accepted Answer

Chess experts have been shown to have better memory for the positions of pieces on a chess board, but only when the arrangement respects the rules of chess. This indicates that their memory is specialized and trained for specific patterns and configurations, rather than a general advantage in visual memory.

Question 9

Researchers have tried to study the moment of illumination in the laboratory. The evidence indicates that:

Accepted Answer

The evidence suggests that participants are just as likely to be moving towards a dead end as they are towards the solution when they report an illumination. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Options A and B are incorrect because the researchers have attempted to study the moment of illumination in the laboratory, and there is evidence indicating that there is no systematic relationship between reports of illumination and actual problem-solving progress. Option D is incorrect because it is not universally true that a reported illumination necessarily leads to a solution.

Question 10

Expert problem-solvers:

Accepted Answer

Expert problem-solvers are able to see the underlying structure and patterns in a problem, allowing them to categorize and analyze it more effectively. This is in contrast to novices, who may focus more on surface-level details and struggle to recognize the deeper underlying structure. Analogies can be helpful for both experts and novices, but experts may be more skilled at finding and applying relevant analogies due to their ability to identify underlying structures. Option D is also incorrect, as mapping (drawing connections between different concepts or domains) can be a useful tool for analogy use in problem-solving.

Question 11

The tendency to be rigid in how one thinks about an object's function is called:

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness refers to the cognitive bias that prevents people from seeing that an object can have a function other than its typical one. It is a tendency to stick to a fixed or limited use of an object and ignore other possible uses. Mental stickiness, functional narrowness, and narrow focus do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 12

According to Wallas's theory of creativity the initial period in which a problem-solver gathers information is known as:

Accepted Answer

According to Wallas's theory of creativity, the initial period in which a problem solver gathers information is known as the preparation stage. This is where the person acquires knowledge about the problem, identifies the challenges, and sets goals. The other options are not correct in describing the initial period of the problem-solving process.

Question 13

Which of the following problems is ill-defined?

Accepted Answer

An ill-defined problem lacks clear goals, solution paths, or expected solutions. Sarah's problem of impressing her boss is ill-defined because it lacks specific criteria or a clear path to a solution.

Question 14

Experts seem able to break a problem into meaningful chunks. This strategy provides all of the following advantages EXCEPT it:

Accepted Answer

Breaking a problem into meaningful chunks helps experts identify subproblems and the organization of the problem's elements, making it easier to see the problem's structure, and remember the various elements of the problem. It does not necessarily draw the expert's attention to the problem's microstructure.

Question 15

It was starting to rain, and Marcus didn't have an umbrella or a hat. To keep dry, he held his psychology textbook over his head. In this case, Marcus:

Accepted Answer

Marcus is using his psychology textbook in a way that it was not originally intended to keep himself dry, which shows that he has overcome functional fixedness.

Question 16

People often compare experts to novices. Which of the following claims about this comparison is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

The answer of People often compare experts to novices. Which...

Question 17

Bob works in marketing and wants to be creative at his work. Which of these is LEAST likely to be a prerequisite for his creativity?

Accepted Answer

Being strongly motivated by external rewards rather than taking pleasure in his work is least likely to be a prerequisite for creativity as external rewards might restrict Bob's creativity and restrict him to create only that which is demanded by the organization rather than exploring beyond that. Others such as having knowledge about his domain in marketing, being able to ignore criticism and tolerate ambiguous findings, and being willing to take risks and not follow the crowd are more likely to foster Bob's creativity.

Question 18

A problem-solving set:

Accepted Answer

A problem-solving set can limit creative thinking and potential solutions, but it can also narrow down impossible options and guide problem-solving in a more focused direction. Therefore, option D is the best choice, as it acknowledges the benefits of a problem-solving set in certain situations.

Question 19

Many years ago, Wallas argued that creative thought proceeds through four stages. Which of the following is NOT one of these stages?

Accepted Answer

Wallas argued that the four stages of creative thought were preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification. Articulation is not one of the stages.

Question 20

As Vanessa worked on the problem, she reported out loud, "No, that option doesn't seem to work. No, that doesn't work either." Then Vanessa abruptly shouted, "I think I've got it!" These reports seem to capture the phenomenon called:

Accepted Answer

The answer of As Vanessa worked on the problem, she...

Quiz 14: Solving Problems