PROBLEM SOLVING

ALGORITHM

Specific procedure that when used properly will always lead to the solutionEx: recipes, math formulas

S P L O Y O C H Y GUsing an algorithm, we would face 907,200 possibilities

HEURISTICS

• Shortcuts to solve problems

•S P L O Y O C H Y G• Put a y at the end

METHODS

• Trial and Error• Deduction Reduction: take a

step away from the goal• Means-End Analysis: break into

parts and solve separately• Working Backwards• Analogies: use same strategy to

solve similar problems

INSIGHT

• Wolfgang Kohler• The solution seems to come

in a flash• Aha effect

Incubation

• When we arrive at the solution to the problem when we have not been consciously working on it

Mental Set

• The tendency to respond to a new problem with an approach that was successfully used with similar problems

Functional Fixedness

• The tendency to think of an object as being used only for the function that the object is usually used for

Convergent Thinking

• Thought is limited to available facts

Divergent Thinking

• A thought process that attempts to generate multiple solutions to a problem