NEUR1020 W13

• What does problem solving often produce, especially when you conceptualise it in the wrong way?

  An impasse (dead end)
• What is the key to problem solving from Gestaltist perspective?

  Restructuring the problem in a way that makes the solution obvious and exposes deep structure, instead of superficial surface elements
• What is the computational perspective of incremental problem solving?

  Algorithms --> fixed procedure for producing guaranteed solution (but may not be efficient)

  Heuristics --> rules of thumb method to produce solution (but may not produce solution)
• What are the 2 examples where problems are solved by changing the way it is presented?

  Gear problems and mutilated chessboard
• What do analogies help with?

  Help reveal deep structure. Ones that share superficial similarity to the problem is the most helpful
• What are 2 heuristics to problem solving?

  Means-ends-analysis --> creating sub-goals that moves you towards the end-goal

  Hill-climbing --> explicit solution to problem is unknown, but you keep performing actions that move you towards the end-goal
• Why is problem solving a complex form of cognition?

  Because it's a goal-directed behaviour that requires a cognitive strategy and often multiple steps to take
• Incremental problem solving is often done by?

  Heuristics
• What is a simple rule of thumb that is used to make decisions and choices?

  Heuristics
• Although rational theories of choice and problem solving algorithms are similar, what is the difference?

  Rational theories of choice is usually more resource-demanding (time and information) and it eventually produces optimal decisions
• What is "ignorance-based" recognition heuristic?

  In situations where we have very little information and only one option is recognised, we choose that one. In this situation, we may not be able to assign utilities and weighting to attributes
• What is availability heuristic in terms of decision making?

  Decisions are sometimes based on the ease with which instances are remembered
• What are framing effects?

  When decisions are dependent on how the problem is presented, either in positive or negative spotlight. When standing to gain something, people prefer certainty. When standing to lose something, people prefer risky options.
• According to the subjective expected utility theory, what should decisions be based on?

  The total benefit produced by each alternative
• What is elimination by aspects method?

  Ruling out decision alternatives on the basis of specific features
• What is the conjunction fallacy?


  Where people judge the combination of 2 attributes to be more likely than either of those attributes alone
• What do heuristics and biases reveal overall?

  People's judgements depart from normative theory (rational choice).

  Judgement and choice are influenced by memory.

  Heuristics are timely decisions that often serve us well.

  Some information (representativeness outweighs base) is prioritised when making decisions.