Exam 3: Solving Problems

Any analysis of a problem situation, no matter how ________and __________, is ultimately limited.

One of the greatest barriers to problem solving is accurately defining the problem.To help get a grip on the situation, the author suggests three strategies that the critical thinker would use to identify the problem.What is one of those strategies?

Your perspective on a problem is often tied into its location.Sometimes you need a fresh perspective;getting away from the location of the problem situation lets you view it with more clarity.

Take a look at the photo on page 117 of the text, which depicts a young man at his home in a village in Africa.This is an example of

Larger problems are often composed of component problems.To define the larger problem, it is often necessary to identify and describe the _______that comprise it.

Once you have decided on the correct alternative(s) to pursue, your next move is to take action by planning specific steps.

Once you have accepted the problem, the first step in solving the problem begins with determining the importance of the problem.If a situation is of little importance, you can table the problem until such time as you can go back and solve it.

The author tells us that, "to solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by acknowledging that it exists, identifying it, and committing yourself to solving it." Why do you think people have to begin the problem-solving process by acknowledging that a problem exists? Why is this an important first step?

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to __________the problem by ________________that the problem exists.

When deciding what you know about a problem situation, you can identify and organize what you know with some key questions.Which of the following is not a key question?

Critical thinking is not a _______to find the right answer.

In the section "Step 4: What Is the Solution?", the point is made that although each alternative may have certain advantages and __________, not all advantages are equally desirable or potentially effective.

When considering how well a particular alternative has worked, the critical thinker is someone who is _______to new ideas and experiences and _________enough to change or modify new beliefs.

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by acknowledging that the problem exists.One strategy to help accept a problem is

In the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr, the author states that the more he uses the Internet,

The author of the textbook tells us that people who are faced with solving complex problems will often act impulsively, do what someone else suggests, and/or do nothing in hopes that the problem will simply go away.Naturally, none of these reactions is acceptable.However, why do you think people react to complex problems with such predictable behaviors?

Whenever I have something important to do, especially if it is difficult or unpleasant, I tend to put it off.Though this chronic delaying bothers me, I work on more trivial things.What is my problem?

Becoming an effective problem solver does not merely involve applying

Why is it important in problem solving to compare results with goals? Why don't people take this action more often?

There are basically five steps in the problem solving process.a.What is the problem? b.What are the alternatives? c.What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of each alternative? d.What is the solution? e._______?