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Problem solving (Representational Change Theory Ohlsson (1992) (The block…
Problem solving
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What is a problem?
Broadly
Wide range of activities would count as problem solving: perceiving, learning, decision-making, communicating, writing a novel, running a 4- minute mile...
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Reading
Dunbar & Blanchette 2001
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When participants produce their own analogies, these tend to be similar in structure rather than surface properties
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Results: identified over 99 analogies, 3-15 per meeting, within domain
Conclusion: this shows that scientists as well as participants in cognitive experiments use superficial features in their analogies (do they just use familiar analogies?) when scientists changed goal to formulating a hypothesis the types of analogies used also changed
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experimental and naturalistic can be bought together to build new models of cognitive processes. Rather than human thinking being a catalog of errors reasoning is often successful and operates within clear constraints that naturalistic and experimental approaches can identify jointly
Dunbar & Blanchette 2000
Laboratory studies of analogical reasoning have shown that subjects are mostly influenced by superficial similarity in the retrieval of source analogs. However, real-world investigations have demonstrated that people generate analogies using deep structural features. We conducted three experiments to determine why laboratory and real-world studies have yielded different results. In the first two experiments, we used a “production paradigm” in which subjects were asked to generate sources for a given target. Results show that the majority of the analogies that were generated displayed low levels of superficial similarity with the target problem. Moreover, most of the analogies were based on complex underlying structures. The third experiment used a “reception paradigm” methodology. The subjects had to retrieve predetermined sources instead of generate their own. In this case, retrieval was largely constrained by surface similarity. We conclude that people can use structural relations when given an appropriate task and that this ability has been underestimated in previous research on analogy.
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Knoblich, Ohlsson & Raney (2001)
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Essay questions
Describe an influential study on the topic of ‘transfer’ in problem solving and evaluate its influence
Transfer
Does previous experience of related problems affect the solution of a current problem? • Previous experience can lead to positive or negative transfer
Negative
Candle Problem (Duncker, 1945)
‘Functional fixedness’ – box is for holding tacks, not candles
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Luchins (1942)
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“…habituation creates a mechanised state of mind, a blind attitude towards problems; one does not look at the problem on its own merits but is led by a mechanical application of a used method.
Positive
Research has tended to focus on analogical problem solving: – The use of similarities between the current problem and relevant previous problems
Gick & Holyoak (1980, Exp 1)
Participants read 1 of 3 stories before attempting radiation problem (or no story) – general capture fort story
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Holyoak & Koh 1987
Analogy group discussed radiation problem in class, control group did not
3-7 days later in experimental setting both groups presented with target problem (lightbulb filament)
Note: delay, different context, no hint
| Analogy | Control
Problem: | Condition | Condition
Lightbulb| 81% | 10%
Radiation| 86% | 10%
(Percentage correct solutions)
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Experiment 2
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| Surface Similarity
Structural | High | Low
Similarity | (Laser) | (Ultrasound)
High | 69% | 38%
Low | 33% | 13%
