Thinking and Problem Solving

THINKING

• Changing and reorganizing information stored in memory to create new or transformed information.

Units of Thought

Image: Visual mental representation of a specific event or object• Most basic unit of thought• May not be an exact copy, but has the

highlights of the originalSymbol: abstract—a sound, object or design that represents an object or quality• Words, icons, numbers• Can have a number of meanings—

enables us to consider the past and the future

Units of Thought

Concept: A class of objects or events that have at least one common attribute• Enables us to chunk large amounts of

information• We don’t have to treat each new piece of

info as unique• Animals, cars, liquid, beauty

Prototype: A representative example of a concept• The image that comes to your mind when

a concept is introduced• An ex. that has the most characteristics

of the concept

Kinds of Thinking

Directed Thinking (convergent thinking)

• Systematic and logical attempts to reach a specific goal or answer. • Depends on symbols, concepts or rules• Deliberate and purposeful• Helps us solve problems, formulate and follow rules and work toward setting and achieving goals

Non-directed Thinking (divergent thinking)

• Free flow of thoughts, no real plan depends more on images•Daydreams, fantasies•Often used when we are relaxing, or escaping boredom. •May lead to insights into goals or beliefs

KINDS OF THINKINGContinued…

Metacognition: • Thinking

about our thinking

• Thinking of our strategy or how we went about solving something

PROBLEM SOLVING• One of the main functions of directed thinking• Help us bridge the gap between a desired goal

and a present situation

Strategies• Sub-goals: Break a complex

problem down into smaller easier to manage goals• Work Backwards: Start with the

solution and figure out a way to solve it• Look into your memory: Have you

experienced something like this before?

Strategies• Algorithms: Fixed set of procedures that if followed

correctly will lead to a solution• Mathematical formulas, Playing Chess• Not always realistic, can be very long and complex

• Can you figure out what this word is?

•SPLOYOCHYG•PSYCHOLOGY

• How did you solve it?• An algorithm would have taken

907,200 attempts!!

Strategies• Heuristics: Experimental strategies or rules of thumb

that simplify problems and can lead to quick solutions• A short cut• Can result in bad decisions because we don’t have

enough information or we ignore pertinent information• Availability Heuristic• Rely on easily recalled info• Lottery

• Representativeness Heuristic• Assumptions• Rules of thumb• Flipping a coin

Which is more likely….• If I flip a coin 10 times, which is more likely to be the

results?

HHTHTTHTHH or HHHHHHHHHHWHY??

Both series are just as likely, but your representative heuristic makes you think that 1 is more likely because option 1 representsWhat a random series should look like

Obstacles…• Mental Set: When a strategy becomes habit.• Cemented into your problem solving strategies• Your thinking can become rigid: rigidity

• Functional Fixedness: the inability to solve a problem that requires them to use a familiar object in an unfamiliar way.• Inability to “Think outside the box.”• Which activities did you experience this?

TRY THIS!CONNECT ALL 9 DOTS

USE ONLY 4 LINES

DO NOT LIFT YOUR PENCIL

NO RETRACING

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX (LITERALLY)

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E R N P S E G T F B D W A H

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M P G H R Y BA A S T D I O