https://www.illumine.co.

uk/2016/04/5-essentials-problem-solving-work/

A Cognitive Psychology Series

MDYMonsada2018
http://likeateam.com/problem-solving-in-three-basic-steps/
A problem occurs when there is an
obstacle between a present state
and a goal and it is not
immediately obvious how to get
around the obstacle (Lovett, 2002).

A problem, as defined by
psychologists, is difficult, and the
solution is not immediately obvious. http://www.eminenceconsultinginc.com/product/proble
m-solving-root-cause-analysis/
 https://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/gestalt-principles.htm

Problem Solving a Representation and Restructuring

https://www.canstockphoto.com/puzzled-brain-8170123.html
6+6=?
+ =
6 x 2 = 12
x =
 RESTRUCTURING –
changing the problem’s
representation
https://latinlaw
yer.com/articl

INSIGHT – sudden
e/1141611/top-
speakers-
confirmed-for-

realization of a problem’s
latin-lawyer-
restructuring-
conference

solution

http://www.insightcollective.net/
Duncker’s candle problem: You are in a room with
a corkboard on the
wall. You are given the
materials: some
candles, matches in a
matchbox, and some
tacks. Your task is to
mount a candle on the
corkboard so it will
burn without dripping
wax on the
floor.
FIXATION AND FUNCTIONAL FIXEDNESS
https://www.interaction-
design.org/literature/article/obstacles-to-problem-
solving-and-innovation-in-design-thinking

FIXATION – people’s tendency to focus on specific

characteristic of the problem that keeps them from
arriving at a solution.

FUNCIONAL FIXEDNESS – restricting the use of an object

to its familiar function

MENTAL SET – a preconceived notion about how to

approach a problem, determined by people’s
knowledge about the usual use of objects
Maier’s (1931) two-
string problem:

TASK: Tie together

two strings that were
hanging from the
ceiling.
Modern Research in Problem Solving
 Newell and Simon (1972)
saw problems in terms of an
initial state—conditions at
the beginning of the
problem—and a goal
state—the solution of the
problem. The initial state of
the Tower of Hanoi
problem as three discs
stacked on the left peg, and
the goal state as these discs
stacked on the right peg.
INITIALSTATE – conditions at the beginning
of the problem

GOAL STATE – solution of the problem

OPERATORS – actions that take the

problem from one state to another
These differences forced them to follow these safety rules:
1. Only one acrobat may jump at a time.
2. Whenever two acrobats are on the same flagpole, one must
be standing on the shoulders of the other.
3. An acrobat may not jump when someone is standing on his
or her shoulders.
4. A bigger acrobat may not stand on the shoulders of a
smaller acrobat.

How did they manage to do this while obeying the safety

rules?
These differences forced them to follow these safety rules:
1. Only one acrobat may jump at a time.
2. Whenever two acrobats are on the same flagpole, one must
be standing on the shoulders of the other.
3. An acrobat may not jump when someone is standing on his
or her shoulders.
4. A smaller acrobat cannot stand on the shoulders of a larger
acrobat.

How did they manage to do this while obeying the safety

rules?
Participants are asked
to say out loud what
they are thinking while
doing a problem. They
are instructed not to
describe what they are
doing, but to verbalize
new thoughts as they
occur. http://www.learnersedgeinc.com/blog/think-aloud-strategy
The transfer from one problem to another

TARGET PROBLEM

SOURCE PROBLEM / SOURCE STORY

1. Noticing that there is an analogous
relationship between the source story and
the target problem
2. Mapping the correspondence between
the source story and the target problem.
3. Applying the mapping to generate a
parallel solution to the target problem.
http://www.careerexperts.co.uk/about-career-experts
1. First, make sure you understand the problem. You do this by
developing a representation of the essential aspects of the
problem. You do that by searching your knowledge base for
information that seems to you to be solution-relevant.
2. After understanding, then make a plan for solving the
problem. This will also usually involve searching one’s
knowledge base for solutions that are appropriate for the
problem as represented.
3. Carry out the plan by executing your solutions.
4. Look back on your work and ask “how could it be better?”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/good-thinking/201309/how-solve-problems-expert
Experts possess more knowledge
about their fields.
Experts knowledge is organized
differently from novices’
Experts spend more time analyzing
problems
1. First, make sure you understand the problem. You do this by
developing a representation of the essential aspects of the
problem. You do that by searching your knowledge base for
information that seems to you to be solution-relevant.
2. After understanding, then make a plan for solving the
problem. This will also usually involve searching one’s
knowledge base for solutions that are appropriate for the
problem as represented.
3. Carry out the plan by executing your solutions.
4. Look back on your work and ask “how could it be better?”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/good-thinking/201309/how-solve-problems-expert
Organize the knowledge correctly.
Ask the right questions.

Work forward from known to unknown.

https://www.slideshare.net/dajarvis/mgt567-creative-problem-solving
http://www.simplek12.com/learning-theories-strategies/divergent-and-convergent-thinking/
http://icarusproject.it/critical-thinking-and-problem-solving-definition/