9/30/2011
Thinking
Changing and reorganizing the information stored in
memory to create new information
And Problem Solving
Units of Thought
Image
Symbol
Concept
Image
A visual, mental
representation of an event
or object
Prototype
Rule
Typically you can visualize
highlights
Symbol
An abstract unit of
thought that represents
an object or quality
Words, punctuation,
numbers are all symbols
Concept
A label for a class of object
or events that have at least
one attribute in common
Animals, music, liquid,
beautiful people, etc. are
concepts
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9/30/2011
Prototype
A representative example
of a concept
Rule
A statement of relation
between concepts
Example: Animal
Prototype: Cow
Man can’t live forever,
people can’t be in two
places at once, What goes
up must come down
Kinds of Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Convergent Thinking
Metacognition
Convergent Thinking
A systematic and logical
attempt to reach a specific
goal or answer
Depends on symbols,
concepts, and rules
How we solve problems,
work towards goals
Divergent Thinking
Free flow of thoughts with no particular plan
Metacognition
Thinking about thinking
Depends more on images
Example: After a test,
Daydreaming, fantasy
thinking about why you
got a bad grade so you can
try a new strategy next
time
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Problem Solving
Bridging the gap between a
present situation and a desired
goal
Problem Solving Strategies
Algorithm
Heuristic
Some ways to solve problems:
Subgoals – intermediate steps
towards a solution
Start from the end
Look at different possibilities
Other Strategies
Algorithms
A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem
Like a Math or Science problem…
Trying every possible solution, systematically to solve
the problem
Heuristic
A rule-of-thumb problem-solving strategy
Obstacles to Problem Solving
Mental Set
Functional Fixedness
Quick, efficient
Experimental
Example: Giving advice to a friend
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Mental Set
A habitual strategy or
pattern of problem solving
What would be some
mental sets you use?
(Pass out Scrambled
Words)
Mental Set – Unscramble the List
Linen
Scarf
Pears
Stain
Scene
Sheep
Talks
Poles
Lends
Train
Melon
Canoe
Camel
Cream
Colds
Steel
Falls
Whale
Shelf
Meats
Child
Party
Groan
Anger
Queen
Mouth
Gates
Bleat
Functional Fixedness
The inability to imagine new functions for familiar
objects
Creativity
The capacity to use information and/or abilities in a
new and original way
Flexibility
The ability to overcome
rigidity
Uses of a paper clip?
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Recombination
Rearranging the elements of a problem to arrive at an
original solution
Insight
The apparent sudden realization of the solution to a
problem
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