Problem Solving Strategies

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of heuristics in problem-solving?

They require extensive resources to implement.

They are always systematic and thorough.

They guarantee a correct solution.

They simplify the process based on prior experience. (correct)

What does the 'language acquisition device' (LAD) encode in a child's brain?

Basic arithmetic principles and problem-solving

Language fluency and writing skills

Artistic and musical abilities

Major principles of a language and grammatical structures (correct)

Which step in the creative problem-solving stages involves putting the problem aside momentarily?

Illumination

Verification

Incubation (correct)

Preparation

At what age do children typically begin to speak one-word utterances?

12 months Signup and view all the answers

In the context of problem-solving, what does the reduction strategy entail?

Breaking the problem into manageable parts. Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of memory is primarily focused on immediate sensory information?

Sensory memory Signup and view all the answers

What does the verification stage in creative problem-solving involve?

Testing the proposed solution. Signup and view all the answers

What type of memory retrieval involves reproducing previously presented material?

Recall Signup and view all the answers

What is a key barrier to effective problem-solving that involves sticking to past strategies?

Mental sets Signup and view all the answers

At what age do children typically expand their vocabulary to around 25 words?

1-2 years Signup and view all the answers

Which problem-solving strategy utilizes a systematic step-by-step method?

Algorithms Signup and view all the answers

What process involves modifying information to fit the preferred format for memory?

Encoding Signup and view all the answers

What does creative thinking primarily allow individuals to do?

Produce valued outcomes in original ways. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the illumination stage of the problem-solving process?

A sudden insight into the solution. Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of memory allows information to be retained over long periods?

Long-term memory Signup and view all the answers

Which type of encoding is primarily related to the meaning of words?

Semantic encoding Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the inability to recognize images despite having intact vision?

Agnosia Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon refers to the misinterpretation of existing stimuli?

Illusion Signup and view all the answers

What describes the perception of objects that appear smaller than they are?

Micropsia Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the phenomenon where one person's thoughts are transferred to another without sensory communication?

Telepathy Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the perception of future events without any known inferential process?

Precognition Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the process when a conditioned response fades as the conditioned stimulus is no longer presented?

Extinction Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a conditioned stimulus (CS) in Pavlov's classical conditioning experiments?

Bell Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when a previously conditioned response re-emerges after a period of extinction?

Spontaneous recovery Signup and view all the answers

In the context of classical conditioning, what does stimulus generalization refer to?

Responding to similar stimuli as if they were the conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

What type of response is a conditioned reflex (CR)?

A learned response triggered by a conditioned stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in Pavlov's experiments?

The environmental stimulus that elicits a natural reaction Signup and view all the answers

Which psychologist is associated with trial and error theory in the context of S-R theory with reinforcement?

Edward Thorndike Signup and view all the answers

In classical conditioning, what is stimulus discrimination?

The process of learning to differentiate between similar stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is functional fixedness?

Viewing an object as only having its usual functions Signup and view all the answers

Which component of language deals with the rules of pronunciation?

Phonology Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument presented by Chomsky regarding language acquisition?

All children are born with an inherent ability for language Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes semantics in the context of language?

The ways in which a language conveys meaning Signup and view all the answers

What does confirmation bias involve?

Favoring information that confirms existing beliefs Signup and view all the answers

How does pragmatics influence communication?

By determining the social context of language use Signup and view all the answers

According to Skinner, what principle explains language development?

A model of operant learning based on reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the critical period hypothesis in language development?

Children not exposed to language by age 7 can lose the ability to master it Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Strategies for Problem Solving

Trial and Error: Attempts multiple solutions until one proves successful.
Algorithms: Systematic methods that explore every possible solution step-by-step.
Heuristics: Simple strategies for generating and testing hypotheses based on prior experiences, saving time but increasing the risk of errors.
Reduction Strategy: Breaks complex problems into smaller parts, solving each to address the overall issue.
Finding Analogue: Uses similarities between different situations to draw connections and solutions.
Creative Thinking: Involves producing novel and valuable outcomes by following structured stages.

Creative Problem-Solving Stages

Preparation: Identifying the problem and considering relevant past experiences.
Incubation: Temporarily setting aside the problem to allow unconscious processing.
Illumination: Sudden insight or realization of potential solutions.
Verification: Testing the proposed solutions to ensure their efficacy.

Key Barriers to Problem Solving

Mental Sets: Over-reliance on previously successful strategies, even if they no longer apply.
Functional Fixedness: Viewing objects strictly in their traditional roles, limiting creative uses.
Confirmation Bias: Favoring information that supports existing beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence.

Language

Definition: A system for combining symbols (words) to express thoughts and feelings among individuals.
Components:
- Phonology: Rules and patterns of speech sounds.
- Morphology: Study of the smallest meaningful units of speech (morphemes).
- Syntax: Rules governing the arrangement of words into sentences.
- Semantics: Interpretation and meaning conveyed by language.
- Pragmatics: Use of language within context and intention.

Explaining Language Development

Critical Period: Childhood is crucial for mastering language; lack of exposure by age 7 affects ability to learn any language.
Operant Learning (Skinner): Language development arises from association, imitation, and reinforcement.
Inborn Universal Grammar (Chomsky): Rapid language acquisition indicates inherent ability; children possess a language acquisition device (LAD) to grasp grammatical structures.

Developmental Milestones of Language

First Year: Babbling begins at 3-4 months; single words emerge by 12 months.
1-2 Years: Vocabulary expands to about 25 words.
3 Years: Simple two-word combinations start while vocabulary increases.
4 Years and Onward: Use of grammatical rules becomes apparent.

Memory & Intelligence

Definition: Memory involves acquiring, encoding, storing, and retrieving information.
Encoding Types:
- Semantic: Understanding meanings.
- Acoustic: Processing sounds.
- Visual: Interpreting images.
Storage: Retention of information affects retrieval; involves sensory, short-term, and long-term memory stages.

Retrieval Mechanisms

Recall: Reproducing previously learned material.
Recognition: Identifying learned information from options provided.

S-R Theory

Without Reinforcement (Pavlov): Classical conditioning demonstrates how reflexive responses can be conditioned to stimuli.
With Reinforcement (Thorndike, Skinner): Trial and error learning and operant conditioning emphasize the role of reinforcement in behavior modification.

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Produces an automatic response (e.g., food causing salivation).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Neutral stimulus that acquires the ability to evoke a response through association (e.g., a bell).
Conditioned Reflex (CR): Learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

Classical Conditioning Phenomena

Extinction: Gradual disappearance of conditioned responses when the CS is no longer paired with the UCS.
Spontaneous Recovery: The unexpected return of a previously extinguished response.
Stimulus Generalization: Responses triggered by similar stimuli (e.g., fearing all fuzzy animals).
Stimulus Discrimination: Ability to differentiate between different stimuli based on learned experiences.

Perception Interpretation

Mechanism: Matching new stimuli with stored memory models to derive meaning.
Disorders of Perception:
- Visual Agnosia: Inability to recognize visual stimuli despite intact vision.
- Perceptual Distortion: Alters perceptions of size or sound intensity.
- Perceptual Deception: Includes misinterpretation (illusions) and false perceptions (hallucinations).

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

Telepathy: Direct thought transference between individuals.
Clairvoyance: Awareness of concealed objects.
Precognition: Anticipating future events without prior knowledge.

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Description

Test your understanding of various problem-solving strategies, including trial and error, algorithms, and heuristics. This quiz will challenge your cognitive processes and help you distinguish between different methods of approaching problems.