Deck 12: Problem Solving

Question 1

Insight problem solving is associated with __________.

A)deep thought
B)careful,step by step thinking
C)the "Aha!" experience
D)the Luchin's effect

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to neuropsychological research,insight problem solving is more likely to occur when there is increased cortical activity __________.

A)unilaterally
B)in both hemispheres
C)in the frontal lobes
D)in the striatum

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Incubation in problem solving is __________.

A)a myth
B)counterproductive
C)useful only with mathematical problems
D)a period during which the problem is not consciously being worked on

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which does NOT illustrate Gestalt psychological principles?

A)Kohler's work with insight learning in apes
B)Maier's "two-string problem"
C)good continuation
D)means-end analysis

Question 5

Gestalt is __________.

A)a form
B)a function
C)production
D)implicit

Question 6

In problem solving,insight is __________.

A)a sudden understanding of the solution to a problem
B)a person arrives at any kind of a solution to a problem
C)the cognitive skills acquired by practicing problem solving
D)when one can introspect on the steps one takes to solve a problem

Question 7

In problem solving,an inability to think of or consider anything but the customary uses for objects and tools is referred to as __________.

A)functional fixedness
B)conditional reasoning
C)causal analysis
D)negative set

Question 8

Which is TRUE of Gestalt psychology?

A)It led researchers to think about how a person perceives the whole of a problem.
B)The "whole" perspective makes it easier to accept their research at face value.
C)The effectiveness of the reductionist approach inherent in Gestalt problem-solving research could not be relied upon to produce valuable insights.
D)The definition of "goal" as the desired endpoint or solution of the problem-solving activity is problematic.

Question 9

A German term adopted into psychological terminology referring to an entire pattern,form,or configuration is __________.

A)Eichler
B)Eichenbaum
C)Gestalt
D)Diatrics

Question 10

Metcalfe & Weibe (1986,1987)studied how people solve problems.Their most important finding was __________.

A)implicit memory can be spared despite poor explicit memory
B)people have good insight into their ability to solve routine,but not insight,problems
C)people have good insight into their ability to solve insight problems
D)people are good at solving insight problems,unless reasoning by analogy is required

Question 11

The apparently sudden arrival at a solution to a problem,without the normal feeling of getting warmer,is __________.

A)algorithmic solutions
B)analogical reasoning
C)insight
D)clarification of the goal state

Question 12

The example from the text,"A room full of Ph.D.s and nobody can open a book" (using a partially open textbook to adjust height of projection from a slide projector with a broken base),illustrates __________.

A)functional fixedness
B)conditional reasoning
C)syllogistic reasoning
D)means-end analysis

Question 13

In studies of problem solving,a word-for-word transcription of what the participant said aloud during the problem-solving attempt is __________.

A)Gestalt
B)functional analysis
C)introspection
D)a verbal protocol

Question 14

The water jug experiment (Luchins,1942)illustrates __________.

A)preservative fixation
B)Gestalt influences
C)negative set
D)insight through analogy

Question 15

Neuropsychological research supports each of the following claims EXCEPT __________.

A)left frontal involvement in solving problems by analogy
B)left parietal involvement in solving problems by analogy
C)right hemisphere involvement in solving insight problems involving semantic memory
D)a hypothalamic pathway used for solving insight problems involving semantic memory

Question 16

Wasting a lot of time opening junk mail,even when the envelope is obviously not a real bill,might reflect __________.

A)functional fixedness
B)implicit set
C)syllogistic reasoning
D)means-end analysis

Question 17

In problem solving,what is incubation?

A)the feeling of getting warmer as people approach a solution
B)when people come to be able to solve a problem after not thinking about it for a while
C)when people take the advice of others to solve a problem
D)when people are provided with a hint to how to solve a problem

Question 18

What is it called if people can solve a problem after not thinking about it?

A)insight
B)analogy
C)Einstellung
D)incubation

Question 19

For insight problems,the feeling of getting "warmer" as one closes in on the solution __________.

A)is a strong indicator
B)is largely absent
C)reveals itself in the verbal protocols
D)is experienced in moderation

Question 20

In studies of problem solving,a verbal protocol involves __________.

A)detailed notes taken by an experimenter during problem solving
B)providing exceptionally detailed verbal instructions to people prior to problem solving
C)a transcription of people's verbalizations as they solve problems
D)a structured verbal guide for people as they solve problems

Question 21

In terms of consciousness,analogical problem solving __________.

A)is always conscious
B)is always unconscious
C)cannot be related
D)is sometimes conscious and sometimes unconscious

Question 22

A complex kind of problem solving in which relationships in one situation are mapped onto another to solve a problem is __________.

A)production system
B)mental model
C)insight problem
D)analogy

Question 23

Analogical problem solving can be troubled if people focus on __________.

A)only the current problem
B)deep relations
C)superficial characteristics
D)abstract geons

Question 24

When using analogy to solve problems,a similar problem is called the __________domain.

A)source
B)problem
C)solution
D)target

Question 25

__________ is setting a problem aside for a period of time to help solve it.

A)Incubation
B)Negative set
C)Functional fixedness
D)Problem space

Question 26

People typically __________ analogies to solve problems.

A)do not spontaneously use
B)avoid
C)fail when using
D)do not see the point of using

Question 27

What is the name for the desired endpoint of problem solving?

A)goal
B)operator
C)problem space
D)sequence

Question 28

Analogical problem solving depends on finding __________.

A)a parallel structure
B)an orthogonal structure
C)a perpendicular structure
D)an oblique

Question 29

Many scientific breakthroughs involve __________ problem solving.

A)neurological
B)analogical
C)conceptual
D)abstract

Question 30

What of the following is NOT one of the three factors that guide problem solving according to Holyoak and Thagard's multiconstraint theory?

A)problem similarity
B)problem structure
C)purpose of an analogy
D)problem solution

Question 31

Analogy is used in problem solving __________.

A)by comparing the current situation to other similar ones
B)in a way that assesses the non-digital components
C)to always be successful
D)at the outset

Question 32

Neurological research on analogical problem solving has found that __________.

A)overall brain activity can change
B)the hemispheres are differentially involved
C)human brains are only beginning to evolve to solve problems
D)subcortical structures are the most active

Question 33

Problem solving by assessing the relationship between two similar situations or problems involves __________.

A)insight
B)analogy
C)Einstellung
D)mental set

Question 34

According to Radvansky & Ashcraft,which of the following is NOT one of the central characteristics of problem solving?

A)goal directedness
B)the problem space
C)cognitive operations
D)sequence of operations

Question 35

The initial,intermediate,and goal states in a problem and the problem solver's knowledge and any external resources that can be used to solve the problem are collectively referred to as __________.

A)subgoal decomposition
B)the problem space
C)sequence of operations
D)mental representation

Question 36

When using analogy to solve problems,the current problem is called the __________domain.

A)source
B)problem
C)solution
D)target

Question 37

Neuropsychological research shows that during insight problem solving,__________.

A)people need to be released from frontal lobe suppression
B)the frontal lobes need to suppress irrelevant thoughts
C)cortical activation is nearly shut down
D)cortical activation is at its highest

Question 38

According to the multiconstraint theory of problem solving,analogical problem solving is aided by finding and using __________.

A)the stated goals in a problem
B)observed stimuli
C)first impressions
D)an exclusive focus on the problem

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a constraint of multiconstraint theory (Holyoak & Thagard,1997)?

A)the similarity of the source and target domains
B)parallelism of the structure of the problems
C)the similarity of the purpose or goal of the problems
D)our procedural operators required to institute the solutions

Question 40

Which is NOT mentioned in the text in the context of the problem space?

A)branching
B)pruning
C)fertilizing
D)blocking

Question 41

All of the following occur in problem space EXCEPT __________.

A)applying operators
B)triad analysis
C)conducting a constructive search
D)drawing inferences

Question 42

Well-defined problems have all of the following EXCEPT __________.

A)vague states
B)clear end points
C)ambiguous operators
D)open-ended solutions

Question 43

A problem with explicit and complete initial and end states is called __________.

A)ill-defined
B)still-defined
C)well-defined
D)all-defined

Question 44

Well-defined problems have all of the following EXCEPT __________.

A)explicit initial state
B)explicit end state
C)complete specification
D)ambiguous operators

Question 45

Which is NOT true of production statements and/or production system models?

A)Productions are either condition-action or if-then relations.
B)If a production's conditions are satisfied,the production action takes place.
C)GPS was the first production systems model in psychology.
D)Production system models are only used in psychological modeling.

Question 46

Of the problems discussed in the text,which does NOT illustrate means-end analysis?

A)hobbits & orcs problem
B)missionaries & cannibals problem
C)bronze coin problem
D)Tower of Hanoi

Question 47

Which of the following is most helpful in solving the four-disc Tower of Hanoi problem?

A)insight
B)satisficing
C)means-end analysis
D)problem space violation

Question 48

Which is NOT true of increasing domain knowledge?

A)A person with only limited knowledge of a topic is far less able to solve problems efficiently in that domain.
B)Chess masters need only a glimpse of a chess board to remember where all the (legally located)pieces are.
C)Extensive domain knowledge leads to the development of expertise.
D)Developing inferences will allow us to break a large problem into separate subgoals.

Question 49

Which is NOT true?

A)Satisficing is the heuristic in which we find a solution to a goal or subgoal that is satisfactory,but not necessarily the best possible solution.
B)An initially "satisfactory" solution to a problem may give additional insights into further refinements of the solution.
C)Deficiencies in what was thought to be satisfactory achievement of a subgoal may be illustrated as work progresses on attaining the next subgoal.
D)"Rough drafts" in the context of satisficing are restricted to establishing "production rules" for production models.

Question 50

The first genuine computer-based model of problem-solving behavior was __________.

A)AMD
B)GPS
C)PDQ
D)SOA

Question 51

Recursively getting closer and closer from the current state towards the solution state is __________.

A)means-end analysis
B)general problem solver (GPS)
C)anticipating outcomes
D)working backwards

Question 52

A problem with vaguely specified states and operators are called __________.

A)ill-defined
B)still-defined
C)well-defined
D)all-defined

Question 53

What is distinctive about the General Problem Solver (GPS)?

A)It was one of the first computer programs made to solve problems.
B)It as a complete failure.
C)It has not had to be modified at all over the decades.
D)It illustrates the catastrophic consequences of arrogance and hubris in some academics.

Question 54

In the General Problem Solver (GPS)program,a production was __________.

A)causally independent
B)a condition-action pair
C)content free
D)a rigorous testing method

Question 55

Operators are __________.

A)one's knowledge of a specific domain or topic
B)the structure of the problem
C)our purposes or goals in solving the problem
D)a legal move or operation that can occur during the solution of a problem

Question 56

In problem solving,what is domain knowledge?

A)what a person knows about the topic of a problem
B)how broad a person's knowledge is in general
C)knowledge that is only applicable to one specific domain,and can never be used for any others
D)copyrighted material

Question 57

Which is NOT a suggestion to help improve problem solving?

A)Increase domain knowledge.
B)Follow a systematic plan.
C)Work backwards.
D)Avoid inferences.

Question 58

What is means-ends analysis?

A)keeping in mind the end goal state and working through the changes that will move you from that state to the current state
B)getting to the end of problem by any means necessarily to solve it successfully
C)using the end state of the problem as a means of solving it
D)repeatedly determining the difference between the current and goal state and finding a way to reduce that difference

Question 59

Which of the following was a limitation of the General Problem Solver (GPS)?

A)It was over-dependent on means-end analysis.
B)It had trouble with the Tower of Hanoi problem.
C)It was implemented on a computer.
D)It did not have face validity.

Question 60

What does the following represent? DONALD
GERALD
ROBERT

A)conditional reasoning
B)syllogistic reasoning
C)cryparithmetic
D)the fundamental heuristic

Question 61

Insight problem solving typically involves not working slowly toward a solution.

Question 62

People are good at predicting whether they would be successful in solving routine problems.

Question 63

The data from verbal protocols and the use of verbal protocol analysis is still a lingering source of discomfort within cognitive psychology.

Question 64

Functional fixedness occurs when people think about objects in the standard way.

Question 65

It can be helpful to break a problem down into smaller components called __________.

A)subgoals
B)chunks
C)operating units
D)packets

Question 66

Which involves searching for relations?

A)solving the Tower of Hanoi problem
B)reasoning by analogy
C)means-end analysis
D)changing the problem representation

Question 67

H.M.,the famous anterograde amnesic,would likely __________.

A)show normal learning curves on problem-solving tasks
B)have profound retrograde amnesia
C)be unable to solve the Tower of Hanoi problem
D)show normal free recall performance in a word problem task

Question 68

Changing the representation may involve all EXCEPT __________.

A)scratch paper
B)physical representation
C)visualization
D)Any of the above could be classified as "changing the representation."

Question 69

Following a systematic plan is most useful for __________.

A)relatively short problems
B)long,multi-step problems
C)well-defined problems
D)ill-defined problems

Question 70

When people think about objects only in the standard way,this is called negative set.)

Question 71

The right hemisphere tends to be more active during insight problems than during routine problems.

Question 72

Consider the following: Three men want to cross a river; they find a boat,but it is a very small boat.It will only carry 200 pounds.The men are named Large (200 lbs),Medium (120 lbs),and Small (80 lbs).How can they all get across? They might have to make several trips in the boat (VanLehn,1989).

A)two trips
B)three trips
C)five trips
D)cannot be done (evidence for the importance of searching for contradictions)

Question 73

Which is NOT true of practice?

A)People routinely believe that stunning talent and amazing accomplishment derive from inherited,genetic,or "interior" explanations.
B)Dedicated,regular,long-term practice leads to high levels of skilled performance.
C)Practice within a particular domain strengthens that knowledge,pushes problem-solving components closer to automaticity,and gives you a deeper understanding of the domain.
D)It will yield special-purpose heuristics that combat mundane stereotyped knowledge through the development of stronger declarative memory production systems.

Question 74

Working backwards entails __________.

A)the careful documentation of a well-specified goal or end-state
B)establishing a representation of the full problem space
C)tracing the solution pathway in reverse order
D)establishing subgoal states that allow recycling

Question 75

__________ in problems that ask "Is there a way to ...?" or "Is it possible that ...?"

A)You should work backwards
B)You should work forwards
C)You should draw a diagram
D)You should search for contradictions

Question 76

Research has demonstrated that the concept of "insight" is useful only for introspective reports.

Question 77

Inferences can help problem solving because __________.

A)not all of the relevant information is explicitly stated
B)the solution is not provided
C)means-end analysis is limited
D)we all have cultural biases

Question 78

In problem solving,__________.

A)solving the Tower of Hanoi requires declarative memory
B)means-end analysis is only useful when used by production systems
C)finding relations across problems can require sufficient time for the participants to discover useful information from related problems
D)exhaustively searching the problem space in an algorithmic fashion will highlight the inadequacies of whatever representational scheme has been adopted unless the participant is instructed to "work backwards" from the desired end-state

Question 79

Automating some aspects of problem solving __________.

A)is impossible
B)can facilitate performance
C)requires rigorous verbal protocols
D)is never a good idea

Question 80

Using the solution to a problem as basis for solving a problem is part of the strategy of __________.

A)satisficing
B)developing subgoals
C)working backwards
D)analogical reasoning