Problem Solving

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Problem Solving

• 8.2

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Algorithms and Heuristics

• Different problems must be approached in
  different ways first we must identify the type
  of problem

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Algorithms

• When used properly will always lead you to the
  answer
• Formulas in math
• Figuring diameter of a circle
• Systematic Searches
• Practicality

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Heuristics

• Ha__ __ man
• Around 300 possibilities!
• Phone numbers
• Heuristics rules of thumb
• Wheel of Fortune
• Likelihood of letters
• Heuristics are faster but less reliable

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Problem Solving Methods

• Trial and Error
• Difference Reduction
• Problem A (Fig. 8-1) A Step Backward
• Means-End Analysis
• Certain things we can do (means) will have
  certain results (ends)
• Break the problem into parts

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PSM

• Working Backward
• Identifying the goal first
• Analogies
• Archimedes and the crown Eureka!

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1.) BIRD NEST   (A) dog doghouse(B)
squirrel tree (C) beaver dam (D) cat litter
box(E) book library 2.) DALMATIAN DOG
(A) oriole bird (B) horse pony (C) shark
great white (D) ant insect(E) stock
savings 3.) DOCTOR HOSPITAL (A) sports fan
stadium (B) cow farm (C) professor
college (D) criminal jail(E) food grocery
store 4.) CUB BEAR (A) piano
orchestra (B) puppy dog (C) cat kitten (D)
eagle predator(E) fork utensil 5.) TENET
THEOLOGIAN (A) predecessor heir (B)
hypothesis biologist (C) recluse rivalry (D)
arrogance persecution(E) guitarist rock band
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Answers

• C
• A
• C
• B
• B

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Insight and Incubators

• Insight sudden understanding
• Sometimes the answers reveal themselves to us
  without much conscious awareness
• Light bulb Effect
• Incubation Effect
• Kohlers Chimps
• Boxes, sticks, and bananas
• Insight and jokes
• Extreme problems and incubation

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Obstacles

• Mental Set our minds become fixed on a a
  solution process that has worked previously
• Functional Fixedness Think of objects in the
  way they are usually used

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Problem Solving and Creativity

• Convergent Thinking Narrowing of the mind to
  find the single best solution
• Divergent Thinking Associating freely to
  various elements, following leads

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ABCDEs of Problem Solving

• Assess
• Brainstorm
• Choose the approach
• Do it
• Evaluate

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Reasoning

• Reasoning using information to reach
  conclusions
• Deductive Reasoning The conclusion is true if
  the premises are true
• Premise Idea or statement that provides
  information that allows us to draw conclusions
• Inductive Reasoning We reason from individual
  cases or particular facts to reach a conclusion
• Sometimes, said conclusion is wrong

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Inductive Reasoning

• Confirmation Bias we spend time trying to prove
  a hypotheses true, rather than false
• Things must be looked at from different angles
  and approaches to be proven

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Decision Making

• Weighing the pluses and minuses
• Balance sheets of pros and cons
• You must take your abilities into account

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Shortcuts

• just another word for heuristics, and I mean,
  seriously, who didnt already know that?
• You didnt? Really? Did you read the section?
  You did? Are you sure? Yeah, I kind of thought
  soorIm sorry you didnt remember that part.

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Representativeness Heuristic

• T/F Quiz
• What represents a random sequence?
• Making decisions about a sample based on the
  population that the sample appears to represent

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Availability Heuristic

• Making decisions based on what is available to
  your immediate consciousness
• Overestimations of the occurrence of events

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Anchoring Heuristic

• Making decisions based on certain standards or
  ideas they hold
• Common anchors religion, politics
• Making adjustments to anchors

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Framing Effect

• How wording affects decision making
• Lite v. Thin
• Pro v. Anti

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Overconfidence

• Why do people tend to be overconfident even when
  they are wrong?