PSYC3450 Problem Solving

2013-14, 1st Term

Department of Psychology
 he Chinese University of Hong Kong
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1. Course Description: What is the course about? 
This course introduces basic concepts, theories, methods, and findings in the psychology of
thinking and problem solving. In particular, the course will cover research findings related to
problem solving, reasoning, judgment, decision-making, social problem solving, and problem
solving in groups. We will also discuss the role of unconsciousness in thinking and whether
human are rational/irrational thinkers.
2. Learning Approach: How does the course help you learn about psychology? 
An interactive learning approach will be implemented in this course. You will be engaged in
a wide range of interactive in-class demonstrations, laboratory activities, and group
discussions to facilitate your learning.
3. Prerequisites: What knowledge do you need before taking this course? 
General Psychology (PSYC1000) or equivalence.
4. Contact Information of Teaching Members
Lecturer

Teaching Assistant

Name:

Dr. Deborah KO

Qiming HAN

Office:

Room 332, Sino Building

Room 339, Sino Building

Telephone:

3943 1060 (office)

3943 6489 (office)

Email:

dmko@psy.cuhk.edu.hk

qmhan@psy.cuhk.edu.hk

Lecture:

Tuesday 14:30 16:15 (YIA_LT9)

Tue 16:30 18:15 (YIA_LT9)

Office Hours:

By appointment

Friday 14:00 16:00pm

Readers
Name:

Karim BETTACHE

Lanny MO

Office:

Room 332, Sino Building

Room 326A, Sino Building

Email:

kbettache@psy.cuhk.edu.hk

jhmo@psy.cuhk.edu.hk

Office Hours:

Monday 13:00-15:00

Friday 14:30-16:30

5. Course Content
Topics

Contents/fundamental concepts

Intro: History and

Methodology

What is the history behind problem solving within cognitive

psychology and philosophy? How have we been able to study the
black box?

Problem Solving

How do we approach problems and begin formulating strategies to

solve them? What are different strategies that we use and how are they
effective or ineffective?

Reasoning

Are we always rational? How do we take information and draw

conclusions? How do we take what we know to solve problems?

Inductive vs. Deductive

and Heuristics

What are the top-down and bottom-up processes we use to arrive at

solutions? What kind of short cuts do we use to arrive at the answers?

Decision
Making/Choice

How do we arrive at making decisions? When is it difficult to make

decisions and how can we be better at making them?

Unconscious Thought,
Emotion, Motivation

Are we always in control of how we solve problems? What are other

factors that seem less rational that affect how we problem solve?

Intelligences and
Creativity

What are different types of intelligence and how do they help us in

solving problems? How does this translate into how creative we are in
problem solving

Group Problem Solving

How do groups solve problems together? What are some of the

problems that groups have in solving problems

Social Problem Solving

How do we solve problems between other people? How do we avoid or

resolve conflict with others?

6. Expected Learning Goals

Learning Goals:
1. Understand the knowledge base of problem solving.
2. Be equipped with the research methods in problem solving.
3. Develop critical thinking skills in problem solving.
4. Apply and relate theories of problem solving to daily issues.

7. Expected Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students will be expected
to:
Learning Outcome 1

Learning Goal 1

Understand, relate and apply the key concepts of

problem solving to daily life

Learning Goal 4

Learning Outcome 2

Learning Goal 1

Familiarize with the key classical and contemporary

experimental studies and findings in problem solving

Matching of learning goals:

Each learning outcome matches with
the following learning goals:

Learning Goal 2

Learning Outcome 3
Conceptualize, structure, articulate and present original
ideas, both in written assignments and during tutorial
discussions, related to problem solving

Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 4

Learning Outcome 4

Design, direct and regulate own study plan for

problem-based learning, from identifying the problem,
setting learning objectives, researching on relevant
information, reflecting on what has been learnt, to
applying the knowledge to future problems

Learning Goal 2
Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 4

8. Learning Activities
Time per week
No. sessions total
Attendance
Teaching Member(s)
Matching with learning
goals (LG)
Matching with learning
outcomes (LO)

Lecture
2 hrs in-class
12 lectures
Optional
Lecturer
LG1
LG3

Tutorial
1 hr in-class
12 tutorials
Mandatory
Teaching Assistants
LG1
LG2
LG3
LG4
LO1
LO2
LO3

LO1
LO2

Three different types of learning activities will be adopted in this course:

I. Interactive Lectures

Self-Directed Study
3 hrs out of class
--Self-initiated by students
LG2
LG3
LG4
LO4

Present an overview of psychology-related concepts, terminologies, theories and experimental

findings, both classical and contemporary
Discuss in the class controversial topics in psychology
Engage the class in interactive activities to consolidate the understanding on psychological
concepts, terminologies, and theories.

II. Tutorials

Demonstrate classical studies in cognitive psychology.

Acquire key experimental techniques in cognitive psychology.
Acquire skills in presenting experimental results.

III. Self-directed Studies

Let students take responsibility for design, direct and regulate their own learning about
psychology, to consolidate knowledge, critical thinking skills, and personal reflection on
psychology-related topics to pursue further learning.

9. Assessment Scheme
Assessment Mode:

Matching of learning goals:

Students will be assessed in the form of:

Each assessment mode matches with

the following learning goals:

1. Formative assessment (measures what you have learnt

at different stages during the course)

Learning Goal 1
Learning Goal 2

2. Summative assessment (examination to test

understanding of the subject knowledge)

Learning Goal 1
Learning Goal 2

3. Authentic assessment (measures various abilities that

you can apply to address real-life problems or fictional
scenarios).

Learning Goal 3
Learning Goal 4

Assessment
Scheme

Description

Weight

Quizzes

Multiple-choice questions covering the

entire course. (15% 2 quizzes)

30%

Paper

This assignment provides a chance for

students to reflect on the scientific and/or
daily-life implications of theories or
findings (10% paper 1, 30% paper 2).

40%

Matching with assessment

mode (AS)
AM1
AM2
AM1
AM3

Group Project

This assignment provides a chance for

students to apply psychology knowledge
to real world problems.

Tutorial
Participation

Students are expected to attend all

tutorials, participate actively in
discussion, and finish assigned work

20%

10 %

AM2
AM3

AM1
AM3

Note:

Students are expected to attend all tutorials.

Absentees from a quiz for unjustified reasons will not be granted a make-up quiz and will be
given a 0 for that quiz. Students with justified reasons will be given a make-up quiz with
essay questions.

Each paper and group project report should be submitted to VERIGUIDE (see p.8).
Otherwise, it will not be graded.

Quizzes (30%)
(15%) Midterm Exam. This exam covers week 1 6. It will be roughly 50 multiple choice
questions, held during tutorial.
(15%) Final Exam. This exam covers week 7 11. It will be roughly 50 multiple choice questions,
held during tutorial.
Extra Credit Opportunity
Before each exam (before lecture, 14:30 Oct 8 for the midterm, before lecture, 14:30 Nov 19 for the
final exam), students have the opportunity to gain extra credit towards their exam grade. Students
should submit no less than 5 multiple choice questions with correct answers marked. Students whose
question(s) are accepted into the exam will receive 1 point extra credit for each question.
Paper (40%)
(10%) Identifying the Problem. Describe a problem you had in the past and detail all the
constraints and parameters. Describe how you came about your solution and if your solution
adequately solved the problem. Do not describe possible better solutions. Due Sept 24, 2013 at the
beginning of class, by 14:30. A hard copy should be brought to tutorial. Late submission will be
penalized 10% of the grade for each day. Hardcopies should be turned into your TA at the
beginning of class.
(30%) Finding Solutions. Analyze the solution from the 1st paper of your classmate. What kind of
problem was this and what type of solution and solution process is this indicative of? Identify two
other possible ways of solving this problem and identify how you came to these conclusions and
incorporate as many concepts from class to explain the solutions and your process. Due Nov 5, 2013
at the beginning of class, by 14:30. Late submission will be penalized 10% of the grade for each
day. Hardcopies should be turned into your TA at the beginning of class.
Tutorial Participation (30%)
(10%) Attendance and participation. Attendance is mandatory for tutorials. Active participation in
discussion and group work will receive higher marks.

(20%) Group presentation. Group presentations will be based on consolidating analysis of group
members problem analysis, including an analysis of similarities and differences in problems and
solution processes. Slide material must be turned in digitally to TAs before lecture Nov 19, 2013.
Failure to do so at the designated time will result in a 10% penalty.

10. Grade descriptors

Grade Overall course
A

Outstanding performance on all learning outcomes.

A-

Generally outstanding performance on all (or almost all) learning outcomes.

Substantial performance on all learning outcomes, OR high performance on some learning

outcomes which compensates for less satisfactory performance on others, resulting in
overall substantial performance.

Satisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes, possibly with a few

weaknesses.

Barely satisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes.

11. Learning resources

Readings:
Readings will mostly be articles and they will be posted online for you to download.
12. Course updates
Course updates such as revised materials, lectures, and additional readings will be provided on the
course website: https://sites.google.com/site/psych3450/
13. Feedback for evaluation
Students are welcome to give comments and feedback at any time during the class. Stop by to talk to
the instructor or teaching assistants or send us an email.

14. Course schedule

Date

Lecture

Tutorial

9/3/2013

Intro: History and Methodology

Introduction

9/10/2013

Problem Solving Part 1

Paper expectations

9/17/2013

Problem Solving Part 2

Problem Solving

9/24/2013

Reasoning

Reasoning

10/1/2013

Holiday

N/A

10/8/2013

Induction vs. Deduction and

Heuristics

Midterm Review and

Paper 2 workshop

10/15/2013

Decision Making/Choice

Midterm

10/22/2013

Unconscious Thought, Emotion,

Motivation

Midterm Recap/
Motivation

10/29/2013

Intelligences/Creativity

Intelligences/Creativity

10

11/5/2013

Group Problem Solving

Presentation prep

11

11/12/2013

Social Problem Solving

Presentation prep

12

11/19/2013

Presentations

Presentations

13

11/26/2013

Applying problem solving/ Final

exam review

Final Exam

Assignments

Paper 1 due
Extra Credit
Qs

Paper 2 due
Extra Credit
Qs
/Presentation
due

15. Academic honesty and plagiarism

Information regarding the academic honesty and plagiarism policy in the University is located at
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/. Some further advice is given below.
PSYC3450
Problem Solving
2013-14, Term 1
Guideline about plagiarism
Any assignment (i.e., project, essay, or paper) that shows evidence of plagiarism will be marked
down severely. In simple terms, plagiarism is copying passages and/or ideas from other sources
without referencing those sources. Moreover, when you report someone elses ideas/findings you
must put it in your own words and not merely copy full sentences or parts of sentences from the
source article. It is your responsibility as a scholar-in-training to cite the ideas and work of others
correctly. Please visit the following websites for discussions of how to recognize and avoid
plagiarism.
http://ec.hku.hk/plagiarism/introduction.htm
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml
http://www.hamilton.edu/writing/style/plagiarism/plagiarism.html
If you commit plagiarism in an assignment, and it is your first offence in the course, the penalty will
range from a minimum of a single letter grade reduction in score on the assignment to a maximum of
failure on the assignment. A second offence within the same course will result in a minimum penalty
of a single letter grade reduction in the course grade to a maximum penalty of course failure. The
specific penalty applied is up to the discretion of the professor. In all cases of plagiarism, the
student's name will be recorded in a central database maintained by the general office. If a student is
referred for plagiarism in more than one course, or more than one instance in the same course, the
student's case will be forwarded to the university administration for follow-up action.
Detecting plagiarismThe Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning requires that all student
assignments in undergraduate programmes should be submitted via VeriGuide. This policy will only
apply to assignments in the form of a computer-generated document that is principally text-based
(i.e., excluding calculations in science, brief laboratory reports, drawings in fine arts and
architecture, etc.).
Each student must upload a soft copy of the completed assignment to the plagiarism detection
engine VeriGuide, at https://veriguide1.cse.cuhk.edu.hk/cuhk/
The system will issue a receipt which also contains a declaration of honesty, which is the same as
that in http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/p09.htm
The declaration should be signed, and the receipt stapled to a hard copy of the assignment upon
submission.
Assignments without the receipt will not be graded by teachers.

PSYC3450
Problem Solving
2013-14, Term 1
Academic Honesty Statement
I promise that all assignments submitted to this course across the entire semester will be original
except for source material explicitly acknowledged. I also acknowledge that I am aware of
University policy and regulations on honesty in academic work, and of the disciplinary guidelines
and procedures applicable to breaches of such policy and regulations as contained in the website
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/policy/academichonesty/.

______________________________
Signature

______________________________
Date

______________________________
Name

______________________________
Student ID

PSYC 3450
Course code

PROBLEM SOLVING
Course Title