Problem Solving and

Creativity
Chapter 11
 Outline
1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
2. Ill-Structured Problems and the Role of
Insight
3. Creativity
 1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
• Problem Solving
– The process of overcoming obstacles to answer a
question or to achieve a goal

The problem Solving Cycle

1. Problem Identification
– We have to recognize that we have a goal or that the
solution we had in mind does not work
2. Problem definition and representation
– We have to define and represent the problem well
enough to understand how to solve it
 1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
3. Strategy formulation
– We have to plan a strategy for solving the
problem which may involve
• Analysis – breaking down the whole of a complex
problem into manageable elements
• Synthesis – putting together various elements to
arrange them into something useful
• Divergent thinking – you try to generate a diverse
assortment of possible alternative solutions to a
problem
• Convergent thinking – you narrow down the
multiple possibilities to converge on a single, best
answer
 1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
4. Organization of Information
– You have to organize the available information in a
way that enables you to implement the strategy
– You organize the information strategically, finding a
the most suitable representation
5. Resource allocation
– We have limited resources (time, money, equipment,
space,…)
– We have to decide how much we want to invest into
the problem solving
 1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
6. Monitoring
– It is necessary to monitor the process of solving the
problem to make sure that we are getting closer to the
goal
– We need to reassess what we are doing to be able to
compensate for possible flaws
7. Evaluation
– You need to evaluate your solution after you have
finished
– New problems can be recognized, the problem may
be redefined, new strategies may come to light, and
new resources may become available
 1. The Problem-Solving Cycle
• Incubation
– Putting the problem aside for a while
– Problem will be processed subconsciously
– The benefits of incubation can be enhanced in
two ways:
• Invest enough time in the problem initially
• Allow sufficient time for incubation to permit the
reorganization of information
 2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
• Problems with clear paths to their
solutions
• Computer simulations of well-defined
problems
– Problem space
• The universe of all possible actions that can be
applied to solving a problem
– Algorithms
• Sequences of operations that may be used
recursively (repeated over and over again)
 2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
• Humans use heuristics
– Informal, intuitive, speculative strategies that
sometimes lead to an effective solution and
sometimes do not
– If we store in long-term memory several
simple heuristics that we can apply to a
variety of problems, we can lessen the burden
of our limited-capacity working memory
 2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
• Heuristics
1. Means-ends analysis
• Analyze the problem by viewing the end (the goal
to be sought) and then try to decrease the distance
between the current position in the problem space
and the end goal in that space
2. Working forward
• Start at the beginning and try to solve the problem
from the start to the finish
 2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
• Heuristics (cont.)
– Working backward
• The problem-solver start at the end and tries to
work backward from there
– Generate and test
• The problem-solver generates a list of alternative
ways of action, not necessarily in systematic way,
and then notices in turn whether each course of
action will work
 2. Types of Problems
1. Well-Structured Problems
• Isomorphic Problems
– Two problems are isomorphic if their formal
structure is the same, and only their content
differs
– E.g. games that involve constructing words
from jumbled or scrambled letters
• Problems of Problem Representation
– A major determinant of the relative ease of
solving a problem is how the problem is
represented
 2. Types of Problems
2. Ill-Structured Problems and the Role of
Insight
• There is no clear, readily available path to
solution
• ill-structured problems do not have well-
defined problem spaces, and problem
solvers have difficulty constructing
appropriate mental representations for
modeling these problems and their
solutions
 ?
Try to solve the following problems:

• A woman who lived in a small town married 20 different

men in that same town. All of them are still living, and
she never divorced any of them. Yet she broke no laws.
How could she do this?

• You have loose black and brown socks in a drawer,

mixed in a ratio of five black socks for every brown one.
How many socks do you have to take out of that drawer
to be assured of having a pair of the same color?
 2. Types of Problems
2. Ill-Structured Problems and the Role of Insight
• Insight
– a distinctive and sometimes seemingly sudden
understanding of a problem or of a strategy that aids
in solving the problem
– Often, an insight involves reconceptualizing a problem
or a strategy for its solution in a totally new way
– Insight can be involved in solving well-structured
problems, but it is more often associated with ill-
structured problems
 2. Types of Problems
2. Ill-Structured Problems and the Role of
Insight
• Insight
– The Early Gestaltist View
• Insight problems require problem solvers to
perceive the problem as a whole
– The Nothing-Special View
• Insight is merely an extension of ordinary
perceiving, recognizing, learning, and conceiving
 2. Types of Problems
2. Ill-Structured Problems and the Role of
Insight
• Insight
– The Neo-Gestaltist View
• Insightful problem solving can be distinguished
from noninsightful problem solving in two ways:
– When given routine problems to solve, problem
solvers show remarkable accuracy in their
ability to predict their own success in solving a
problem
– When given insight problems, problem solvers
show poor ability to predict their own success
prior to trying to solve the problems
 3. Creativity
• Creativity
– The process of producing something that is
both original and worthwhile
– Creative individuals show creative
productivity, producing inventions, insightful
discoveries, artistic works, revolutionary
paradigms
– Creative individuals usually have creative
lifestyles, characterized by flexibility,
nonstereotypical behaviors, and
nonconforming attitudes
 3. Creativity
• It’s How Much You Produce
– Creative individuals can come up with many
different ways to solve problems

• It’s What You Know

– What distinguishes remarkably creative
individuals from less remarkable people is
their expertise and commitment to their
creative endeavor
 3. Creativity
• It’s Who You Are
– Role of personality and motivation in creativity
– Intrinsic motivation (enjoyment of the creative
process) is essential to creativity, whereas
extrinsic motivation (fame, fortune) actually
may impede creativity
• It’s Where You Are
– External factors that contribute to creativity
– Context (time, space, resources) of creative
work