Question 1

Which of the following students provides the most accurate basic information about problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Tiffany's statement provides the most accurate basic information about problem solving, as it highlights the need to reach a goal while acknowledging that the solution may not be obvious. This is a key aspect of problem solving that is often emphasized in problem solving literature. The other options are either inaccurate (A) or incomplete (B, C) descriptions of problem solving.

Question 2

According to the research on the use of diagrams in problem solving,

Accepted Answer

The research suggests that diagrams are often helpful in problem solving because they can convey information in a clear and concise way. Option B is incorrect because a hierarchical tree diagram is a visual representation of a problem, not a list of steps. Option C is incorrect because while matrices can be useful in certain problem-solving situations, they are not always the most effective way to use diagrams. Option D is incorrect because the research suggests that diagrams can be an effective tool in problem solving.

Question 3

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

Accepted Answer

The introduction to the chapter on problem solving states that people typically use problem-solving strategies that can produce a solution fairly quickly. This suggests that option D is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because trial-and-error is not necessarily the most useful problem-solving strategy in all situations. Option B is incorrect because research suggests that people tend to take an active approach when solving problems. Option C is incorrect because people typically need to consider both the initial state and goal state when solving problems.

Question 4

Suppose that you are in charge of the Psychology Club's annual picnic, and you need to fill each student's lunch container with a main course (beef, chicken, or vegan), as well as a dessert (lemon or chocolate). The most effective way to represent this information would be to create

Accepted Answer

A matrix would be the most effective way to represent this information as it allows for easy comparison and organization of the options for both the main course and the dessert. The rows could represent the three main course options (beef, chicken, vegan) and the columns could represent the two dessert options (lemon, chocolate). This would allow for easy reference and selection of lunch options for each student.

Question 5

You would expect a matrix to be a useful problem solving representation when

Accepted Answer

Matrices are particularly useful for representing problems where the information is stable and not changing over time, as they allow for the organization of data in a structured format that is easy to manipulate mathematically.

Question 6

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

Accepted Answer

The introduction to the chapter on problem solving states that people typically use strategies that are designed to produce a quick solution. This suggests that people may prioritize speed over thoroughness in the problem-solving process.

Question 7

In problem solving, the term obstacles refers to

Accepted Answer

Obstacles are restrictions or challenges that hinder the problem-solving process. They are the difficulties that need to be overcome in order to reach a solution. Options A, B, and D do not accurately define obstacles in the context of problem-solving.

Question 8

Which of the following students provides the best definition for the term thinking?

Accepted Answer

Denise's definition of thinking includes the idea of going beyond the given material to achieve a goal, which is a more complete and accurate definition of thinking than the other options. Wilfredo's definition is more about multitasking than thinking, Lyssu's definition mentions obstacles rather than thoughts, and Anne's definition is too limited to knowledge acquisition.

Question 9

Suppose you have just read over an algebra problem, and you have now created an internal representation of the important information. According to the discussion of problem solving, you have mastered the stage called

Accepted Answer

The understanding stage involves creating an internal representation of the important information in a problem, which is exactly what is described in the question. The other stages listed are problem finding (identifying a problem to solve), heuristic choice (selecting a strategy to solve the problem), and background knowledge (prior knowledge that may be applicable to the problem).

Question 10

Psychologists who support the situated-cognition approach to problem solving would be most likely to emphasize

Accepted Answer

The situated-cognition approach emphasizes that problem solving is closely tied to specific contexts, and that the knowledge and strategies people use to solve a problem may not transfer to other situations. This approach suggests that people are better at solving problems that are similar to ones they have encountered before in similar contexts, rather than solving completely new problems in new contexts.

Question 11

Working memory is important when people are trying to solve an algebra "word problem" because

Accepted Answer

Working memory is responsible for holding information in the mind for a short period of time while it is being processed. In algebra word problems, there are often crucial pieces of information that need to be remembered while working on the problem. This requires using working memory to temporarily store and manipulate the relevant information, which is necessary for solving the problem.

Question 12

Suppose that you have solved a problem by letting the letter x represent one unknown and by letting the letter y represent another unknown. Which problem-solving method have you used?

Accepted Answer

By letting x and y represent unknowns, the problem solver is using symbolic notation to handle the unknown values. This is a common approach in algebraic problem solving.

Question 13

Imagine that you are currently trying to solve a problem. Which of the following statements about attention would be relevant to your situation?

Accepted Answer

If you are experiencing distracting ideas, it can divide your attention and make it more difficult to focus on the problem you are trying to solve. Option B is incorrect because distractions can arise in both real-world and non-real-world problems. Option C is incorrect because the appropriate part of the problem may not always be obvious and may require attention to identify. Option D is also incorrect because good problem solvers tend to have better attentional control and are able to focus on relevant information more effectively than poor problem solvers.

Question 14

Suppose that you are trying to solve the problem of assembling a new bookcase that you have just bought, using a sheet of instructions as a guide. According to the discussion of problem understanding,

Accepted Answer

According to the discussion of problem understanding, in order to solve a problem like assembling a new bookcase using assembly instructions, you need to mentally represent the problem, and this representation must be consistent with the assembly instructions. This means that you need to create a mental image or model of the bookcase and its individual parts, and then match these up with the corresponding steps and diagrams in the instructions. You also need to ensure that your mental representation is accurate and in line with the instructions, in order to avoid making mistakes or missing important steps. While background knowledge and heuristics may come into play during the problem-solving process, these are not specifically related to the phase of problem understanding, which is what this question is asking about. Likewise, while symbols and visual images may be useful tools for representing the various steps and parts of the bookcase, these are not the primary focus of problem understanding. Thus, the best choice for this question is C, which emphasizes the importance of forming a consistent mental representation of the problem based on the assembly instructions.

Question 15

Suppose that you want to make a chart that lists the possible combinations that can be formed with four basic flavors of cake and three basic flavors of frosting. This chart would be called

Accepted Answer

A chart that lists all possible combinations of four basic flavors of cake and three basic flavors of frosting would be called a matrix. A matrix is a table that shows the possible combinations of two or more variables in a systematic and organized manner.

Question 16

According to the discussion of visual imagery during problem solving,

Accepted Answer

The discussion emphasizes that visual images can be nontraditional and more helpful than other methods of representing a problem. It also notes that visual imagery is a powerful tool for problem-solving, but it is not always used effectively, especially if the visual imagery is not properly integrated with other cognitive processes. There is no mention that visual imagery is helpful only if problem solvers are initially instructed to visualize a familiar object, and there is no support for the idea that a clear idea about the solution is necessary to use visual imagery.

Question 17

An important potential problem with using symbols to represent a problem is that

Accepted Answer

The potential problem with using symbols to represent a problem is that people may have difficulty translating words into appropriate symbols. This can lead to confusion and errors in the problem-solving process.

Question 18

According to the introduction to the section on problem understanding,

Accepted Answer

The introduction to the section on problem understanding states that "understanding requires a close correspondence between the situation you need to understand and your own internal representation." Choice A is incorrect because it only mentions the external representation and does not address the importance of a correspondence between the situation and internal representation. Choice B is incorrect because representing the problem in matrix form is not a universal criterion for understanding; different problems may have different representation methods. Choice C is incorrect because attention is essential for both problem solution and understanding.

Question 19

According to the research on visual images and problem solving,

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that visual images can help problem solvers arrive at nontraditional solutions because they allow for a more flexible approach to the problem. Additionally, visual images can also help problem solvers see the problem in a new way and come up with creative solutions. Option A is incorrect as research suggests that visual and verbal methods of problem-solving can be complementary. Option B is incorrect as both visual and verbal methods have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it cannot be said that one is always more rational than the other. Option C is incorrect as visual images can often lead to increased creativity during problem-solving.

Question 20

According to your textbook, cognition is the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge. Compared to more basic cognitive processes such as working memory, problem solving makes more use of which of those four processes?

Accepted Answer

Problem solving requires the transformation of knowledge because it involves taking information and manipulating it in a way that leads to a solution. Working memory also involves the storage and manipulation of information, but it doesn't necessarily involve problem solving. Acquisition of knowledge and use of knowledge are important in many cognitive processes, but they are not specific to problem solving.

Quiz 11: Problem Solving and Creativity

Which of the following students provides the most accurate basic information about problem solving?

According to the research on the use of diagrams in problem solving,

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

Suppose that you are in charge of the Psychology Club's annual picnic, and you need to fill each student's lunch container with a main course (beef, chicken, or vegan) , as well as a dessert (lemon or chocolate) . The most effective way to represent this information would be to create

You would expect a matrix to be a useful problem solving representation when

According to the introduction to the chapter on problem solving,

In problem solving, the term obstacles refers to

Which of the following students provides the best definition for the term thinking?

Suppose you have just read over an algebra problem, and you have now created an internal representation of the important information. According to the discussion of problem solving, you have mastered the stage called

Psychologists who support the situated-cognition approach to problem solving would be most likely to emphasize

Working memory is important when people are trying to solve an algebra "word problem" because

Suppose that you have solved a problem by letting the letter x represent one unknown and by letting the letter y represent another unknown. Which problem-solving method have you used?

Imagine that you are currently trying to solve a problem. Which of the following statements about attention would be relevant to your situation?

Suppose that you are trying to solve the problem of assembling a new bookcase that you have just bought, using a sheet of instructions as a guide. According to the discussion of problem understanding,

Suppose that you want to make a chart that lists the possible combinations that can be formed with four basic flavors of cake and three basic flavors of frosting. This chart would be called

According to the discussion of visual imagery during problem solving,

An important potential problem with using symbols to represent a problem is that

According to the introduction to the section on problem understanding,

According to the research on visual images and problem solving,

According to your textbook, cognition is the acquisition, storage, transformation, and use of knowledge. Compared to more basic cognitive processes such as working memory, problem solving makes more use of which of those four processes?