Chapter 24 Student Resources

Flashcards

Key Terms

Well-defined problems

problems in which the initial state, the goal, and the methods available for solving them are clearly laid out.

Ill-defined problems

problems that are imprecisely specified; for example, the initial state, goal state, and the methods available to solve the problem may be unclear.

Insight

the experience of suddenly realising how to solve a problem based on looking at in a different way.

Incubation

the notion that problems can sometimes be solved by putting them aside for a while.

Functional fixedness

an inflexible focus on the usual functions of an object in problem solving.

Analogy

a comparison between two objects (or between a current and previous problem) that emphasises similarities between them.

Near transfer

beneficial effects of training on one task on the learning or performance of another similar task.

Far transfer

beneficial effects of training on one task on the learning or performance of another dissimilar task.

Heuristics

rules of thumb used to solve problems.

Means–ends analysis

an approach to problem solving based on reducing the differences between the current problem state and the solution.

Hill climbing

a simple heuristic used by problem solvers in which they focus on making moves that will apparently put them closer to the goal or problem solution.

Creativity

the ability to produce original, useful, and ingenious solutions to problems

Template

as applied to chess, an abstract structure consisting of a mixture of fixed and variable information about chess pieces and positions.

Deliberate practice

a form of practice in which the learner is provided with informative feedback and has the chance to correct their errors.

Creativity

the ability to produce original, useful and ingenious solutions to problems.