Module: 24

Problem Solving.
Language and
cognition.
 Group 8 members:
o AMMARA NOOR.
o NAVAIL NOOR.
o NADIA KHAN.
o ZARMEEN UMER.
 PREPARATION:
The preparation stage of understanding
and diagnosing is critical because it
allows to develop cognitive
representation of the problem and to place
it within a personal framework.
WELL-DEFINED PROBLEMS:
In it the nature of the problem and
information needed to solve it are
available and clear.
EXAMPLE:
Jigsaw-puzzle.
ILL-DEGINED PROBLEMS:
In it the nature of the problem is unclear
and the information required to solve the
problem is also unclear.
EXAMPLE:
How to bring peace to the world.
 TYPES OF PROBLEMS:
O Arrangement Problems.
O Problems of Inducing Structure.
O Transformation Problems.
Types of problems
And Solving them.
ARRANGEMENT PROBLEMS:
Arrangement problems require the problem
solver to rearrange or recombine elements in a
way that will satisfy a certain criterion.
EXAMPLE:
Anagrams
BODUT
IKCTH
DOUBT
THICK
 PROBLEMS OF INDUCING
STRUCTURE:
In problems of inducing structure a person
must identify the existing relationship
among the elements presented and then
construct a new relationship among them.
EXAMPLE:
What number comes next in the series
142434445464
7
 TRANSFORMATION
PROBLEMS:
Transformation problem consists of an initial
stage ,a goal stage ,and a method for changing the
initial stage into goal stage.
EXAMPLE:
Tower of Hanoi puzzle
The initial state is the original form, the goal state
is to have the three disks on the third peg and the
rule includes minimum movement and no larger
disk should cover the smaller one.
 Tower of Hanoi puzzle:
As follow:
 REPRESENTING AND
ORGANIZING THE PROBLEM:

A crucial aspect of the initial encounter

with a problem is the way in which we
represent it to ourselves and organize the
information presented to us.
 EXAMPLE:
A man climbs a mountain on Saturday, leaving at
daybreak and arriving at the top near sundown. He
spends the night at the top. The next day, Sunday
he leaves at daybreak and heads down the
mountain , following the same path that he climbed
the day before. The question is this: Will there be
any time during the second day when he will be at
exactly the same point on the mountain as he was
at exactly that same time on the first day?
Production: generating solutions

O After preparation, next stage in problem

solving is the production of possible solutions.
 Ways to solve a problem
O Trial and error method:
It is characterised by repeated, varied attempts
which are continued until success, or until the
agent stops trying.
Drawback:
If a problem is complicated, it would take
lifetime to try out every possibility.
O Heuristics:
In place of trial and error ,problems solving
often involves the use of heuristics, cognitive
shortcuts that can generate solutions. These are:
• Means- ends analysis:
It involves repeated tests for differences between
the desired outcome and what currently exists.
There are two main approaches to find solution
in means- end analysis.
 Working- forward approach:
In the working-forward approach, the problem
solver tries to solve the problem from beginning
to end.
 Working backward approach:
In the working-backward approach, the problem
solver starts at the end and works toward the
beginning.
Example:
Water lily problem
• Forming sub goals :
Another heuristic commonly used to generate
solutions is to divide a problem into intermediate
steps, or sub goals, and solve each of those steps.
Example: tower of Hanoi problem.
Drawback:
In some cases, however, forming sub goals is not
all that helpful and may actually increase the
time needed to find solutions. E.g. solving
complicated mathematical problems.
• Insight:
It involves a sudden burst of comprehension that
one may experience during efforts to solve a
problem.
Example:
Kohler’s experiment on chimpanzees.
Judgement: evaluating solutions

O The final stage in problem solving is judging

the adequacy of a solution.
Functional Fixedness&
Mental Health
 Functional Fixedness:
O The tendency to think of object only in terms of its
typical use.

O For example: Book

O In many cases, functional fixedness can prevent

people from seeing
O the full range of uses for an object. It can also impair
our ability to think of novel solutions to problems.
Example of functional fixedness:
Inaccurate Evolution of solution
O Government leaders blame Saddam Hussain for
processing mass
O destruction weapons, they ignore contradictory
evidences and focus
O on information that supported views

O Later senate found out that it was based on false

interpretation.

O Functional Fixedness is an example of mental set.

 Mental set:
O The tendency for old patterns of problem
solving to persist.

O It affects perception as well as pattern of

problem solving

O It prevents you from seeing beyond the

apparent constraints of problems .
 Example of mental set:
The object of the task is to use the jars to
measure out a designated amount of water.
 Impediment of solution:
O Problem solving test

O Solving this problem misled you at initial preparation stage.

O The problem solving exist at three stages

O Cognitive approach suggest that thinking proceeds rational.

O Logical lines as a person confronts a problem and considered many

solutions

O Several factors hinders, development of creative and accurate solutions.

Creativity and Problem
Solving
 What is a Problem?
O Any question or matter involving doubt,
uncertainly or difficulty.

O A question proposed for solution or

discussion.
Continue…
 What is a Creativity?
O Definition:

O The ability to generate original ideas or solve

problems in novel ways.
Continue…
 Edward Paul Torrance:
O Known as the “Father of Creativity” for his
nearly 60 years of research became the
framework, for the field of gifted education.
O He was Professor emeritus of educational
psychology.
Edward Paul Torrance
Creative Problem Solving
O The creative problem solving process involves
creativity. It encourages you to find fresh
perspectives & come up with innovative
solutions, so that you can formulate a plan to
overcome obstacles & reach your goals.
Continue…
 Experiment
O You can keep seashells from your vacation in
it to decorate your room . You can put sand on
the bottom of it & pour melted wax over the
sand & stick a wick in it to make a candle.
You can use it as a drinking glass. You can
keep rubber bands or paper clips or colored
marbles in it. You can store bacon grease in a
jar, or fill it with hand soaps & place it by the
bathroom sink.
Seashells
 Thinking

Divergent thinking Convergent thinking

O The ability to generate O The ability to produce
unusual, yet responses that are
nonetheless based primarily on
appropriate, responses logic and knowledge.
to problems or
questions
 Example
O Someone relying on convergent thinking
would answer “You read it” to the query
“What can you do with a newspaper?” in
contrast, “You use it as a dustpan” is a more
divergent and creative response.
Thanks Viewers!