Question 1

Studies show that expert problem-solvers tend to devote __________ of their mental resources to global planning than do novice problem solvers.

Accepted Answer

Expert problem solvers tend to devote more of their mental resources to global planning than novice problem solvers. This is because they have more experience and can quickly identify the most effective global strategies to solve a problem. Novice problem solvers, on the other hand, tend to focus more on local problem-solving strategies and may miss the bigger picture.

Question 2

__________ refers to the tendency to believe that problem situations with similar contexts or content also have analogous formal structures or solution paths.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ refers to the tendency to believe...

Question 3

__________ refers to a period of rest,following a period of intensive effort in problem solving,during which the problem-solver puts aside the problem for a while,thereby permitting greater mental flexibility so that insights may arise.

Accepted Answer

The period of rest following intensive problem solving, in which the problem-solver puts aside the problem for a while to allow for greater mental flexibility and insights to arise, is known as the incubation stage. Option A refers to a stage that may occur after the incubation period, where insights are facilitated. Options B and C are not related to the concept described in the question.

Question 4

__________ occurs when solving an earlier problem makes it easier to solve a new problem.

Accepted Answer

Positive transfer occurs when solving an earlier problem makes it easier to solve a new problem. This is because the knowledge and skills gained from the earlier problem can be applied to the new problem, leading to a more efficient problem-solving process. Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate multiple solutions to a problem, while functional fixedness is the tendency to only see objects or ideas in their usual or customary way. Negative transfer occurs when solving an earlier problem actually interferes with the ability to solve a new problem.

Question 5

__________ are statements made by problem solvers.The statements can be about the problem itself or the strategy the individual will use to solve the problem.

Accepted Answer

Verbal protocols are statements made by problem solvers as they work through a problem. They can be about the problem itself or the strategy the individual will use to solve the problem. Musings are more like random thoughts and not necessarily related to the problem-solving process. Think-alouds and cognitive walkthroughs are also related to verbal protocols, but they have specific guidelines and are used in certain contexts such as user interface design and testing.

Question 6

__________ is an aspect of problem solving during which the person encodes the problem and formulates a general strategy for attacking the problem.

Accepted Answer

Global planning refers to the initial stage of problem solving where the individual creates a general plan or strategy for approaching the problem. Fluid and crystallized planning are not established categories in problem-solving theory. Local planning refers to the actual implementation of specific steps in carrying out the plan.

Question 7

John,an expert chess player,is playing chess with Mark,a novice player.Late in the game Mark "accidentally" knocks over the board spilling the pieces on the floor.In this situation ______ is more likely to remember the position pieces because ________.

Accepted Answer

John, being an expert chess player, would have sophisticated schemas or mental frameworks that allow him to quickly process and remember the chess pieces' positions. Therefore, he is more likely to remember the position of the pieces. On the other hand, Mark, being a novice player, might have a higher arousal level because he was losing, but he may not have the necessary mental frameworks to remember the pieces' positions accurately. The options C and D are both incorrect as they do not align with the theories of memory and chess expertise.

Question 8

Asking participants to write about a problem or the methods they will use to solve a problem typically has what effect on problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Asking participants to write about a problem or the methods they will use to solve a problem can improve problem solving ability. Writing about a problem can help individuals clarify their thoughts and identify potential solutions. This process can enhance problem solving skills and increase the likelihood of finding an effective solution.

Question 9

According to Sternberg's research,more intelligent subjects take __________ during encoding and formulation of a general strategy to solve a problem;they also take __________ to form and implement strategies for the details of the task.

Accepted Answer

More intelligent subjects take more time during encoding and formulation of a general strategy to solve a problem; they also take more time to form and implement strategies for the details of the task.

Question 10

__________ refers to a phenomenon whereby repeated experience with a procedure (e.g. ,problem-solving in a particular domain)may lead to enhanced performance,requiring little conscious effort or control.

Accepted Answer

Automaticity refers to the ability to perform a task without requiring much conscious effort or control, and it is developed through repeated experience and practice. This can lead to better performance and efficiency in certain tasks, such as driving a car or playing a musical instrument.

Question 11

Bertha completed a number of problems for an experiment.Two of the problems she noted had the same underlying structure even though the surface features were different.She was able to adapt the solution for the first problem to the second.This is an example of (a/an)

Accepted Answer

Bertha's ability to adapt the solution for the first problem to the second problem is an example of transfer of analogies. She recognized the underlying structure of both problems, which allowed her to apply the same solution. This is a demonstration of analogical reasoning, which involves identifying similarities between different problems and transferring solutions from one problem to another based on those similarities.

Question 12

This is the case where an individual is trying to use/apply the structure/solution from one problem on to a new problem.

Accepted Answer

Intentional transfer refers to the intentional application of a previously learned problem-solving strategy to a new problem. This is different from functional fixedness, which refers to the tendency to use objects or concepts only in their traditional way, and convergent thinking, which involves seeking a single, correct answer to a problem. Transparency, on the other hand, refers to the clarity or openness of a process or decision-making.

Question 13

__________ refers to any carryover of knowledge or skills from one problem situation to another.

Accepted Answer

Transfer refers to the ability to apply knowledge or skills learned in one context to new contexts or situations. It is essential for generalization and can help individuals be more adaptable and flexible in their problem-solving approaches. Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate many different ideas or solutions to a problem, functional inhibition refers to the ability to inhibit irrelevant information or responses, and functional fixation refers to the tendency to remain focused on one approach or solution to a problem, even when it may not be effective. None of these concepts fully capture the idea of carryover of knowledge or skills.

Question 14

__________ is an aspect of problem solving during which the person devises and implements detailed tactics.

Accepted Answer

Local planning refers to the aspect of problem solving where a person devises and implements detailed tactics. This involves breaking down a larger problem into smaller, more manageable parts and coming up with specific actions to address each part of the problem. This is in contrast to global planning, which involves developing a general strategy or approach to solve a problem, and fluid planning, which involves adapting and modifying plans as new information or challenges arise. Crystallized planning, on the other hand, refers to the use of pre-existing knowledge and strategies to solve a problem.

Question 15

__________ occurs when solving an earlier problem makes it harder to solve a later one.

Accepted Answer

Negative transfer occurs when solving a previous problem interferes with solving a future one. It results in decreased performance on the subsequent problem.

Question 16

Studies show that expert problem-solvers tend to devote more of their mental resources to __________ planning than do novice problem solvers.

Accepted Answer

Expert problem-solvers tend to focus on global planning, which involves considering the overall goal and the big picture of the problem at hand. Novice problem-solvers, on the other hand, tend to focus on local planning, which involves considering smaller details and trying things out through trial and error. Isomorphic planning involves using the same problem-solving strategy for different problems, while heuristic planning involves using shortcuts or rules of thumb to solve problems. While both of these types of planning may be used by both experts and novices, the emphasis on global planning is the key difference between the two groups.

Question 17

Many studies have investigated the ability to identify similar underlying structures in two problems (e.g. ,the "radiation problem" and "military problem").Which of the following statements is true regarding human ability to identify these similarities?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals typically do not spontaneously identify similarities between problems; rather, they must consciously search for them. Additionally, similarities may be more difficult to identify when the problems are in different domains, as individuals may be less likely to transfer learning from one domain to another. Therefore, option C is the most accurate statement.

Question 18

Neuropsychological evidence suggests that this area of the brain is particularly important during the planning phase of problem solving.

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex has been shown to be important for planning and decision-making, including during problem solving tasks. The other options do not have as strong a connection to this function.

Question 19

Which of the following has not been identified as a factor contributing to expertise?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following has not been...

Question 20

When it comes to writing term papers,Scott takes much longer conducting his research,organizing his notes,and planning his paper than does David.Yet,David requires more time to do the actual writing of the paper than does Scott.From this we can infer that Scott devotes __________ to __________ planning than does David.

Accepted Answer

Scott's extended time spent on research, organizing notes, and planning indicates a broader, overall approach to the paper, which aligns with the concept of global planning.

Quiz 11: Problem Solving and Creativity