Marjorrie's Notes - PHI 110 CH 12

How do you engage in a systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of your solution?

*COMPARE* the results with the goals - compare the anticipated results of the alternatives you selected: to what extent will your choice meet these goals; are any goals not likely to be met by your alternatives; if so, which ones; could they be addressed by other alternatives *GET* other perspectives: to receive specific practical feedback, you need to ask specific, practical questions that will elicit such information (general - what do you think of this; specific - what do you know about me that you think will help me maintain my motivation to stay in school-even if it takes two years longer than I had planned or do you have any ideas how I can cut my expenses by 10% each month

How does one determine possible courses of action within the existing boundaries?

*DISCUSS* the problem with other people *BRAINSTORM* ideas *CHANGE* your location

What strategy should you use when solving a complex problem to increase motivation and commitment?

*List* the benefits *Formalize* your acceptance *Accept* responsibility for your life *Create* a "worst case" scenario *Identify* the constraints

Strategies for defining the problem include?

- *VIEWING* the problem from different perspectives : perspective taking is a key ingredient of thinking critically; it can also help you to zero in on many problems - *IDENTIFYING* component problems : Larger problems are often made up of component problems. To define a larger problem, it is often necessary to identify and describe the sub-problems that comprise it - *STATING* the problem clearly and specifically : if you state the problem in very general terms, you won't have a clear idea of how best to proceed in dealing with it; however, if you can describe it in specific terms, your description will begin to suggest actions you can take to solve the problem

What is the relationship between values and problems?

Conflicts between our values constitute the problem

Why is correct identification of a problem essential?

Correct identification of a problem is essential if you are going to be able to successfully analyze it and *reach an appropriate conclusion*

How is brainstorming beneficial?

Group brainstorming *BUILDS* on the strengths of working with other people to generate ideas and solve problems; *MOST* creative ideas are often generated through constructive interplay of various minds

What questions should you ask once a solution is in place?

How well is the solution working? -What is my evaluation -What adjustments are necessary

Should you ever omit steps to problem solving?

No, it is not wise to omit steps because each one deals with an important aspect of the problem

What are the potential courses of action once a solution has been chosen?

Once you have decided on an alternative to pursue, your next move is to plan what steps to take in acting on it - *PLAN* the specific steps you will take and *TAKE* action

How is a list of benefits helpful?

helps you *clarify* why you might want to tackle the problem, *motivates* you to get started, and serves as a *source of encouragement* when you encounter difficulties or lose momentum

What are the results of incorrectly identifying the problem?

incorrectly identifying the problem can lead to pursuing an unproductive, even destructive course of action

How can discussing the problem with others be beneficial?

it uses a number of the aspects of *CRITICAL THINKING* explored in ch 1; *OTHER* people can often suggest alternatives we haven't thought of since they are outside the situation and thus have a more objective perspective and since they naturally view the world differently than we do; are often *CREATIVE* experiences that generate ideas participants would not have come up with on their own

What type of pattern does problem solving generally follow?

problem solving is one of the most powerful of *HUMAN THINKING PATTERNS* and writing is the main system we use to analyze challenging problems and propose solutions; similar to the decision making method; *RECURSIVE*

Solutions derived from frustration result in?

reducing your confidence in dealing with complex problems

What are constraints that prevent people from accepting problems?

something holding you back... ex *CONCERNED* about the amount of time and effort involve, *RELUCTANT* to confront the underlying issues the problem represents, you might be *WORRIED* about finding out unpleasant things about yourself and others, or you might be inhibited by *OTHER PROBLEMS* in your life, such as a tendency to * PROCRASTINATE*

How can changing your location be helpful?

sometimes you need a fresh perspective, which you can gain by getting away from the problem situation so that you can view it more clearly in a different light

Effective problem solving includes?

taking a *flexible approach* to the process, one in which they utilize a repertoire of problem-solving strategies as needed

How do you avoid traps when working toward a solution?

you should remind yourself that any analysis of problem situations, no matter how careful and systematic, is ultimately limited; you cannot anticipate or predict everything that will happen in the future; every decision you make is provisional, your ongoing experience will inform you whether it is working out or needs to be modified

What can be determined by answering who, what, where, when, how, why?

determine what you know to be the case and what you think may be the case - define the problem

How do you determine the boundaries of a problem?

determine which actions are possible and which are not - *IDENTIFY* additional boundaries that might be part of the situation and *LIST* some of the questions you should answer about these boundaries; boundaries are limits you can't change, they are part of the problem and they must be accepted and dealt with; be careful not to identify boundaries circumstances that can be changed

How are determining the pros and cons of alternatives helpful?

each possible course of action offers certain advantages in the sense that if you were to select that alternative, there would be possible results; at the same time, each possible course of action probably also has disadvantages in the sense that if you were to select that alternative, you may incur a cost or risk some negative results

Know the five-step method for problem solving

1. What is the *problem* 2. What are the *alternatives* 3. What are the *advantages and/or disadvantages* of each alternative 4. What is the *solution* 5. How *well* is the *solution working*

When accepting a problem, one should?

To solve a problem, you must first be willing to accept the problem by *acknowledging* that it exists and committing yourself to trying to solve it

How do you determine the best solution?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative? -What are the advantages -What are the disadvantages -What additional information do I need in order to evaluate this alternative

What questions should be asked to determine the potential value of the alternatives?

What are the alternatives? -What are the boundaries of the problem situation -What alternatives are possible within these boundaries

What questions should be asked to determine central issues at the beginning of the problem solving process?

What do I know about the situation? What is my purpose for writing about the problem? What results am I aiming for in this situation (what is my purpose)? How can I define the problem?

When is a worst-case scenario NOT beneficial?

When people are able to ignore their possible complications; when you create a worst-case scenario, you remind yourself, as *GRAPHICALLY* as possible, of the potentially disastrous consequences of your actions

Do complex questions mean complex answers?

Yes

Do thoughtful solutions need adjustments?

Yes