VII. Problem Solving
Problem-solving is the active effort people make to achieve a goal that cannot be easily attained. Approaches to Problem Solving There are many strategies for solving problems, included trial and error, algorithms, deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, heuristics, dialectical reasoning, forming subgoals, using similar problems, and changing the way the problem is represented. Trial and Error Trial and error involves trying out different solutions until one works. This type of strategy is practical only when the number of possible solutions is relatively small. Example: It’s dark, and a man is trying to figure out which button on the dashboard of his newly rented car switches on the headlights. He might press all the available buttons until he finds the right one. Algorithms Algorithms are step-by-step procedures that are guaranteed to achieve a particular goal. Example: A chocolate chip cookie recipe is an algorithm for baking chocolate chip cookies. Deductive Reasoning Deductive reasoning is the process by which a particular conclusion is drawn from a set of general premises or statements. The conclusion has to be true if the premises are true. Example: If the premises “All birds have wings” and “A penguin is a bird” are true, then the conclusion “A penguin has wings” must also be true. Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning is the process by which a general conclusion is drawn from examples. In this case, the conclusion is likely, but not guaranteed, to be true. Example: Given the premise “All the butterflies Fred has ever seen have wingspans of less than two inches,” Fred might conclude, “All butterflies have wingspans of less than two inches.” Heuristics A heuristic is a general rule of thumb that may lead to a correct solution but doesn’t guarantee one. Example: A useful heuristic for finishing a timed exam might be “Do the easy questions first.” Dialectical Reasoning Dialectical reasoning is the process of going back and forth between opposing points of view in order to come up with a satisfactory solution. Example: A student might use dialectical reasoning when she considers the pros and cons of choosing psychology as her college major. Forming Subgoals Forming subgoals involves coming up with intermediate steps to solve a problem. This is a way of simplifying a problem. Example: Susan is asked to solve the analogy problem “Prison is to inmate as hospital is to ____.” Susan’s subgoal could be to figure out the relationship between “prison” and “inmate.” Once she achieves this subgoal, she can easily find the answer, “patient.” Using Similar Problems A problem is often easier to solve if it can be compared to a similar problem. Example: Mike has to give his two-year-old daughter a bath, but she resists because she is afraid of the water. Mike remembers that he convinced her to get in the kiddie pool last week by letting her take her large plastic dinosaur toy with her for “protection.” He gives her the toy again, and she agrees to get in the tub. Changing the Way a Problem Is Represented A problem may be easier to solve if it is represented in a different form. Example: If hundreds of guests at a banquet are trying to figure out where they are supposed to sit, written instructions might not be easy to follow. A seating chart, however, makes the seating arrangement easy to understand. |
Vocabulary to Know
Problem Solving Trial and Error Algorithm Deductive Reasoning Inductive Reasoning Heuristic Dialectical Reasoning Quizlet |
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