Problem Solving

1. The “problem”-well versus ill defined

2. Measurement-RT, error patterns, verbal protocols

3. History of problem solving

First work on animals: Thorndike’s puzzle boxes

One cat’s data (all of the others are similar):

Work by Wolfgang Kohler on chimps, apes, found evidence of problem solving ability: e.g.1: tool buildinge.g.2: formal problem solving (Kohler video)

First work on animals: Thorndike’s puzzle boxes

Later on: animal intelligence tests by the Gestalt Psychologists

Epstein , R., Kirshnit CE, Lanza RP, Rubin LC. (1984). “Insight in the pigeon”, Nature, v. 308, pp. 61-62

Most recently, pigeons shown to have same ability

Also, chimp spatial location memory is pretty good:

Problem Solving1. The “problem”2. Measurement

-in humans, most of the work was done by a guy named Dunker in the 40s

3. History of problem solving-Thorndike, Kohler

-focus was more on reasons people failed at problem solving

Problem Solving1. The “problem”2. Measurement

4. Blocks to problem solvinga. Mental set

-nine dot, six toothpicks

3. History of problem solving

Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall.

196 feet

Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall.

196 feet

346 feet

Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them.

196 feet

346 feet

23 feet

Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them. The lowest point of the rope is 23 feet above the ground.

196 feet

346 feet

23 feet

Two flagpoles are standing, each 196 feet tall. A 346-foot rope is strung from the top of one to the top of the other, and hangs freely between them. The lowest point of the rope is 23 feet above the ground. How far apart are the two flagpoles?

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence

1. The “problem”-well versus ill defined

2. Measurement-RT, error patterns, verbal protocols

3. Blocks to problem solvinga. Mental setb. Functional Fixedness

c. Using Hill-climbing

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligence

1. The “problem”-well versus ill defined

2. Measurement-RT, error patterns, verbal protocols

3. Blocks to problem solvinga. Mental setb. Functional Fixednessc. Using Hill-climbing

Is there a way to get around these blocks?Yes, depending on the nature of the block.

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligenceStrategies to break the blocks:

1. Working backwardsWater lilies double in number every 24 hoursOn January 1, the lake has 1 water lily on itOn January 30, the lake is completely covered with them

If a water lily covers 4 square inches of lake, and the lake is 33893 square miles in area, on what date was the lake ¼ covered? Jan.28

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligenceStrategies to break the blocks:

1. Working backwards

2. Working via analogy

You are a doctor faced with a patient who has a malignant tumor in his stomach. The patient is too old to operate on, but unless the tumor is destroyed, the patient will die. There is a type of laser that can be used to destroy the tumor, but at the intensity necessary to destroy it, the laser would kill all the healthy tissue on its way to the tumor. At lower intensities, the laser can pass through the healthy tissue without harming it, but won’t be strong enough to destroy the tumor either. How can you destroy the tumor without destroying any healthy tissue?

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligenceStrategies to break the blocks:

1. Working backwards

2. Working via analogy

A king wished to invade a neighbouring castle. He massed his army and marched to the enemy kingdom. Upon arriving, however, he saw that the castle was surrounded by a wide deep moat, which had numerous flimsy bridges for peddlers and citizens to walk on, but which were not strong enough to support a full army. The king, in his wisdom, split up the army and sent each smaller force to a different bridge, where they all crossed, and met at the castle to lay siege.

Thinking, reasoning, and intelligenceStrategies to break the blocks:

1. Working backwards

2. Working via analogy3. Incubation

Study method uses rebuses:

YOU JUST MECHETONGUEEK