Exam 3 Chapter 12 Book Questions
People are most successful at noticing an analogous relationship between problems if they focus on a) surface features b) structural features c) operations d) mental sets
structural features
In analogical problem solving, the _____ problem is the problem that an individual is trying to solve, and the ____problem, which has been solved in the past, is used as a guide for reaching that solution. a) source; target b) target; source c) prototype; target d) exemplar; source
target; source
Illustrative of functional fixedness, people are more likely to solve the candle problem if a) fewer tacks are provided. b) pliers are also presented. c) the box is empty. d) the candle is already lit.
the box is empty
Janet is alone in a room that contains a chair and a shelf with a book resting on top. She attempts to retrieve the book, but the shelf is a foot above her reach. How will Janet retrieve the book? Psychologists would NOT classify this scenario as a problem because a) the solution is immediately obvious. b) there is an obstacle between the present state and the goal state. c) the initial state is not clearly defined. d) the goal state is not clearly defined.
the solution is immediately obvious
Insight refers to a) prior learning facilitating problem solving. b) prior learning hindering problem solving. c) the tendency to respond in a certain manner, based on past experience. d) the sudden realization of a problem's solution
the sudden realization of a problem's solution
Which problem provides an example of how functional fixedness can hinder solution of a problem? a) Tower of Hanoi problem b) Two-string problem c) Mutilated checkerboard problem d) The radiation problem
two-string problem
Which of the following provides the best example of functional fixedness? a) Using a pair of pliers as a paperweight b) Using a tire as a swing seat and as a football practice target c) Using a juice glass as a container for orange juice d) Using a wine bottle as a vase
using a juice glass as a container for orange juice
Which of the following statements does NOT apply to the results of research on differences between how experts and novices solve problems? a) experts possess more knowledge about their fields than novices b) Experts often organize problems differently than novices, based on principles c) Experts often spend more time analyzing problems than novices d) Being an expert in one field can transfer to better problem solving in another field
Being an expert in one field can transfer to better problem solving in another field
____identified people's tendency to focus on a specific characteristic of a problem that keeps them from arriving at a solution as a major obstacle to successful problem solving. a) Information processing psychologists b) Gestalt psychologists c) Psychophysicists d) The analogical problem solving approach
Gestalt psychologists
Your textbook suggests that a trait that appears to be common in both mental illness and creativity is _____. a) low pressure tolerance b) high levels of neuroticism c) low capacity for divergent thinking d) latent inhibition
latent inhibition
The text's discussion of the research on in vivo problem solving highlighted that ____ play(s) an important role in solving scientific problems. a) analogies b) insight c) flexibility d) subgoals
analogies
In Kaplan and Simon's experiment, they presented different versions of the mutilated checkerboard problem. Participants in the ____ group had the fastest response time. a) blank b) color c) black and pink d) bread and butter
bread and butter
The typical purpose of subgoals is to a) solve insight problems b) move the solver directly from the initial state to the goal state c) bring the problem solver closer to the goal state d) avoid the need to preform means-end analysis
bring the problem solver closer to the goal state
When the process of analogical problem solving was applied to the fortress and radiation problems, which of the following represented the mapping step of this process? a) Likening the dangerous mines to the dangerous tumor b) developing schemas for each individual problem c) connecting the fortress with the tumor d) generalizing from groups of soldiers to using many rays to solve the problem
connecting the fortress with the tumor
Ali works for Citrus Squeeze, a company that makes orange juice. Sales of their calcium-enhanced OJ have been poor, and the product was cancelled. His factory still had three cases of cartons, and Ali was told he could take them if he wanted them. With the cartons, Ali made several birdfeeders for his backyard and also planted tree seedlings in some of them; he used the remaining ones to build a "fort" for his four-year-old son. Ali's use of the cartons represents a) convergent thinking b) divergent thinking c) insight d) hierarchical organization
divergent thinking
In the movie Apollo 13, astronauts aboard a damaged spacecraft have to build a carbon dioxide filter out of random items that are aboard the ship with them. If they do not, they will all die rapidly of carbon dioxide poisoning. The fact that they are able to do so with the help of experts on Earth is similar to the ____ approach developed by Ronald Finke a) convergent thinking b) creative cognition c) divergent thinking d) the means-end analysis
divergent thinking
In its discussion of expertise and problem solving, your text identifies the kind of scientists who are most likely to make revolutionary discoveries in their fields. This particular discussion suggests that ____ may be more important than ____ in creative thinking. a) experience; structure b) structure; experience c) flexibility; experience d) experience; flexibility
flexibility; experience
Holyoak and Koh presented different versions of the light bulb problem to assist in solving the radiation problem. They found the ____ version to be more effective, because it had ____ features in common with the radiation problem a) insufficient-intensity; surface b) insufficient-intensity; structural c) fragile-glass; surface d) fragile-glass; structural
fragile-glass; structural
In the Tower of Hanoi problem, the _____ state involves having three discs stacked on hte left peg, with the middle and right peg empty. a) transitory b) goal c) intermediate d) initial
initial
The analogical paradox refers to problem-solving differences between a) experts and novices b) laboratory and real-word settings c) experimental groups and control groups d) well- and ill-defined problems
laboratory and real-world settings
Finke's creating an object studies show that people were more likely to come up with creative uses for preinventive objects if they a) made the objects themselves b) had received training in creative thinking c) had been preselected as "creative" individuals d) were told they were expected to be creative
made the objects themselves
Gick and Holyoak consider which of the following to be the most difficult step to achieve in the process of analogical problem solving? a) Noticing that there is an analogous relationship between problems because most participants need prompting before they notice a connection b) Mapping corresponding parts between the problems because the elements are difficult to identify c) Applying the mapping to generate a parallel solution because of the difficulty in generalizing from one problem to another d) Solving the problem through reorganization because past experience can make it more difficult to reorganize a problem
noticing that there is an analogous relationship between problems because most participants need prompting before they notice a connection
Finke's "creating an object" experiment had participants create a novel object by combining parts. Once they created an object, they were given the name of an object category and instructed to interpret their creation as a practical object or device within that category. Finke used the term preinventive forms to describe the a) object parts b) novel objects before a function was described c) practical objects within the category d) inventions rated high in both practicality and originality
novel objects before a function was described
Actions that take the problem from one state to another are known as a) intermediate states b) subgoals c) operators d) mental sets
operators
Gestalt psychologists consider problem solving as a process involving a) reorganization or restructuring. b) multiple goal states. c) sensory operators. d) continuity and form
reorganization and restructuring
The radiation problem can be solved using a) representation and restructuring b) means-end analysis c) warmth judgments d) mental set
representation and restructuring
Warmth judgments on nearness to a solution ____ prior to the solution of an insight problem and ____ prior to the solution of a non-insight problem. a) gradually rise; gradually rise b) gradually rise; rise suddenly just c) rise suddenly just; gradually rise d) vary unpredictably; vary unpredictably
rise suddenly just, gradually rise
Newell and Simon were early pioneers in designing computer programs that could solve problems. Their research program was based on the idea that problem solving is a process that involves a) insight. b) algorithms. c) parity. d) search
search
The water-jug problem demonstrates that one consequence of having a procedure that does provide a solution to a problem is that, if well-learned, it may prevent us from a) seeing more efficient solutions to the problem. b) being able to solve other problems at all. c) understanding why the procedure works successfully. d) discriminating between well- and ill-defined problems.
seeing more efficient solutions to the problem
The best description of the purpose of think-aloud protocols is that they are used to determine a) what information a person is attending to while solving a problem. b) which people can be considered more creative in ability to solve problems. c) how to develop computer programs that best mimic human problem solving d) how a person's expertise increases his or her likelihood of solving a problem, relative to a beginner
what information a person is attending to while solving a problem