Question 1

Inductive reasoning is an application of a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

Inductive reasoning involves using specific observations or examples to form a general conclusion or hypothesis, and heuristic refers to a problem-solving strategy that involves finding a practical solution to a problem. Therefore, heuristic is the best choice for completing the given sentence.

Question 2

There are neuropsychological differences between well- and ill-defined problems.

Accepted Answer

Well-defined problems have clear and defined parameters, allow for a specific problem-solving strategy to be applied, and typically involve convergent thinking. In contrast, ill-defined problems tend to have ambiguous or changing parameters, require creative thinking and insight, and involve divergent thinking. These differences can affect the cognitive and neural processes involved in problem-solving.

Question 3

Our ability to solve problems is constrained by our cognitive systems.

Accepted Answer

Our cognitive systems, which include processes like attention, memory, and reasoning, limit our ability to tackle complex problems and find creative solutions. These constraints can be cognitive biases or limitations in our working memory or attentional capacities.

Question 4

Studies examining the eye movements of participants trying to solve math problems found that _____.

Accepted Answer

Eye movement studies often reveal that people tend to fixate on areas or objects that they are actively thinking about or processing, which can provide insights into cognitive processes during problem-solving tasks.

Question 5

Getting dressed is an example of a well-defined problem.

Accepted Answer

Getting dressed involves personal choices, preferences, and situational variables, making it an ill-defined problem without a single, clear, universally applicable solution.

Question 6

A prescribed problem-solving strategy that always leads to the correct solution in problems with a single correct solution is a(n) _____, while a problem-solving strategy that does not always lead to the correct solution is a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a set of instructions/rules that, if followed correctly, will always lead to the correct solution. On the other hand, a heuristic is a problem-solving strategy that may not always lead to the correct solution, but can simplify or speed up the problem-solving process. Therefore, B is the correct answer as it correctly identifies the two types of problem-solving strategies and their respective characteristics.

Question 7

All of the following are heuristic search processes EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Means-backward strategy is not a heuristic search process, while Means-ends strategy, Hill-climbing strategy, and Working-backward strategy are all heuristic search processes used in problem-solving and decision-making.

Question 8

Ill-defined problems are those that lack a clearly defined goal state and constraints.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of an ill-defined problem.

Question 9

Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory uses an established formula to solve a complex physics problem. This is an example of a(n) _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory uses...

Question 10

Writing notes on your hand illustrates functional fixedness.

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. Writing notes on your hand is an example of using an object (your hand) in a non-traditional way, which is the opposite of functional fixedness.

Question 11

IDEAL framework stands for:

Accepted Answer

IDEAL framework stands for Identify, Define, Explore, Anticipate, and Look back.

Question 12

In Gick and Holyoak's study (1980), what was the key to having participants solve the problem of how to help the patient with the inoperable tumor?

Accepted Answer

The key to having participants solve the problem of how to help the patient with the inoperable tumor was that they had to be told that the stories were related. Gick and Holyoak found that participants who were explicitly told that the two stories were related were better able to transfer the solution from the first story to the second story. This suggests that highlighting connections between problems can facilitate the transfer of problem-solving strategies.

Question 13

One of the most persistent findings in the research on expertise is that:

Accepted Answer

The research on expertise consistently shows that experts' advantages are limited to problems within their specific area of expertise. This means that while experts may have superior skills and knowledge within their domain, they may not perform any better than novices in other areas. Additionally, studies have shown that experts and novices may use different strategies for problem-solving, with experts relying more on intuition and previous experience while novices may spend more time analyzing and considering details. However, this does not necessarily mean that one group is smarter than the other.

Question 14

Gestalt psychologists were in favor of purely associationist theories of problem-solving.

Accepted Answer

Gestalt psychologists rejected associationist theories of problem-solving and emphasized the importance of insight and restructuring in problem-solving processes.

Question 15

All of the processes involved in problem-solving are unconscious.

Accepted Answer

While some aspects of problem-solving may be unconscious, such as intuition or gut reactions, much of the process involves conscious effort, such as identifying the problem, generating potential solutions, and evaluating their effectiveness.

Question 16

Experts in a field mentally group aspects of problems together differently from the way novices do[ok or than do novices].

Accepted Answer

Experts have greater knowledge and experience in a specific field, which allows them to see patterns, relationships, and connections that novices may miss. As a result, they organize and group aspects of problems differently from novices.

Question 17

All of the following are explanations for differences in problem solving between experts and novices EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

This is not a valid explanation for differences in problem solving between experts and novices as intelligence alone does not necessarily make someone an expert in a specific field.

Question 18

Solving a crossword puzzle is an example of an ill-defined problem.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Solving a crossword puzzle is an example...

Question 19

Imagine you lost your keys. You begin searching all of the places you have gone to since losing your keys, starting with the last place and working your way towards the first place. This is an example of a means-ends strategy.

Accepted Answer

The described strategy is an example of a working backward strategy, not a means-ends strategy. Means-ends involves breaking down a problem into smaller parts and solving each part to reach the goal, while working backward involves starting from the end goal and tracing steps back to the beginning.

Question 20

_____ is a problem-solving strategy that involves repeated comparisons between the current state and the goal state.

Accepted Answer

The means-ends strategy involves breaking down a problem into subgoals and working towards the ultimate goal by repeatedly comparing the current state with the desired goal state. The working-backward strategy involves starting from the ultimate goal and working backward to the current state, while the hill-climbing strategy involves making incremental improvements to move closer to the goal state. The means-backward strategy is not a commonly recognized problem-solving strategy. Therefore, the best choice is D, the means-ends strategy.

Quiz 11: Problem Solving