PROBLEM

SOLVING and
CREATIVITY
 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
• The problem solving Cycle
• Types of Problems
• Obstacles and Aid to problem
solving
• Knowledge and Problem solving
• Creativity
WHAT IS PROBLEM
SOLVING?
The Problem Solving
Cycle
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Problem Problem Strategy Organization Allocation of Monitoring Evaluation
Identification Definition Formulation of Information Resources
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

1 Do we actually have
Problem
Identification
a problem?
The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

2
Problem What exactly is our
Definition problem?
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

How can we solve

3 the problem?
Strategy • Analysis – breaking down the whole of a complex problem into
Formulation manageable elements.
• Synthesis – putting together various elements to arrange them
into something useful.
• Divergent Thinking - to generate a diverse assortment of
possible alternative solutions to a problem.
• Convergent Thinking – to narrow down the multiple
possibilities to converge on a single best answer.
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

4 How do the various

Organization of pieces of information in
Information
the problem fit
together?
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

5
How much time, effort,
Allocation of money, etc., should I put
Resources
into this problem?
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

6 Am I on track as I
proceed to solve the
Monitoring
problem?
 The 7 Cycle of Problem Solving

7 Did I solve the problem

Evaluation correctly?
Types of Problems
Well- It has clear paths to
solutions. These
structured problems also are
Problem termed well-defined
problems.
 It is the universe of all

Problem possible actions that can

be applied to solving a
problem, given any
Space constraints that apply to
the solution of the
problem.
 A mental shortcut that
allows people to solve
Heuristics problems and make
judgements quickly
and efficiently.
 A sequences of
operations that may be
Algorithms repeated over and over
again and that, in theory,
guarantee the solution to
a problem.
 It refer to the problems with
the same solution procedure
Isomorphic or structure. Sometimes, two
problems are isomorphic; that
Problems is, their formal structure is the
same, and only their content
differs.
Problems of solving the problem was
how the problem was
Problem represented.

Representation
 There are no clear,
readily available paths
Ill- to solution. By
definition, ill-structured
Structured problems do not have
Problems well-defined problem
spaces. These problems
are also termed ill-
defined problems.
 Insight is a distinctive and
sometimes seemingly sudden
understanding of a problem or of a
Role of strategy that aids in solving the
Insight problem.

It often involves detecting and

combining relevant old and new
information to gain a novel view of
the problem or of its solution.
Early-Gestaltist Views The Nothing- Special View

Gestalt psychologists Insight is merely an

held that insight extension of ordinary
problems require perceiving, recognizing,
problem solvers to learning, and conceiving.
perceive the problem as a
whole.
- Productive Thinking
- Reproductive Thinking
The Neo-Gestaltist Views The Three-Process View
According to this view,
when given insight into
insights are of three
problems, problem
kinds. The three kinds
solvers show poor ability
correspond to three
to predict their own
different processes:
success prior to trying to
selective encoding,
solve the problems.
selective comparison,
and selective
combination.
Selective Selective Selective-
Encoding Comparison combination
Insights Insights Insights
involve distinguishing involve novel involve taking
relevant from irrelevant perceptions of how new selectively encoded
information; Selective information relates to and compared snippets
encoding is the process old information. of relevant
in which we select the information and
information that is combining that
important for our information in a
purposes and at the novel, productive way.
same time, we filter out
the unimportant or
irrelevant information
Obstacles and Aid to
Problem Solving
 Mental Sets
a frame of mind involving an
existing model for representing
a problem, a problem context,
or a procedure for problem
solving. Another term for the
mental set is entrenchment.
 Types of Mental Sets
FUNCTIONAL
It FIXEDNESS
is the inability to realize that
something known to have a
particular use may also be used
for performing other functions.
Functional fixedness prevents us
from solving new problems by
using old tools in novel ways.
 Types of Mental Sets
STEREOTYPES
beliefs that members of a
social group tend more or
less uniformly to have
particular types of
characteristics.
 Positive and
Negative Transfer
Transfer - carryover of knowledge
or skills from one problem situation
to another.

•Negative transfer - occurs when

solving an earlier problem makes it
harder to solve a later one
•Positive transfer – occurs when the
solution of an earlier problem
makes it easier to solve a new
problem.
 •Intentional Transfer:
Searching for Analogies - In
looking for analogies, we need to
be careful not to be misled by
Transfer of associations between two things
that are analogically irrelevant.
Analogies
•Transparency - people see
analogies where they do not exist
because of similarity of content.
 INCUBATION
putting the problem aside for a
Transfer of while without consciously
thinking about it. It offers one
Analogies way in which to minimize
negative transfer. It involves
taking a pause from the stages of
problem solving.
 One way to invest enough
initial time in a problem is
Neuropsychology through the formation of a
of Planning in plan of action for the problem.
Problem Solving Planning saves time and
improves performance".
Knowledge and
Problem Solving
 Organization of Knowledge
refers to the way in which experts in a particular domain
organize and structure their knowledge to facilitate problem-
solving and decision-making. It allows experts to quickly and
efficiently access relevant information when solving
problems in their domain, and is an important component of
expertise.

Group A Group B
High Knowledge Low Knowledge
 Elaboration of Knowledge

refers to the process of acquiring and organizing information

in a way that allows for efficient storage, retrieval, and use
of that information. It involves developing a deep
understanding of a particular domain or subject matter by
building large, highly interconnected units of knowledge
organized according to underlying structural similarities
among knowledge units.
 Setting up the Problem

refers to the initial steps taken by problem solvers to

understand the given problem, identify what information is
needed, and determine a plan to find a solution. Experts and
novices differ in their approach to setting up a problem. It is a
crucial step in problem-solving and that experts tend to be
more efficient and effective in this step than novices.
 Automatic Expert Process

Through practice in applying strategies, experts may

automatize various operations. They can retrieve and execute
these operations easily while working forward. It refer to the
highly efficient, automatic, and unconscious mental processes
that experts use to analyze and solve problems in their domain
of expertise.
 Two Important Processes

SCHEMATIZATION - Involves developing rich, highly

organized schemas. This refers to the process of organizing
information into mental schemas or frameworks based on
expertise in a particular domain.
AUTOMATIZATION- Involves consolidating sequences of
steps into unified routines that require little or no conscious
control.
 INNATE TALENT AND
ACQUIRED SKILLS
It refers to the natural abilities or aptitudes that an individual
possesses, which may provide a head start in a particular domain.
On the other hand, acquired skills refer to the abilities that an
individual develops through deliberate practice, experience, and
training. While both innate talent and acquired skills can
contribute to expertise in a particular domain, the relative
importance of these factors can vary across different skill
domains and individuals.
Creativity
 What is Creativity?
The process of producing “something” that is both
original and worthwhile. Creativity reflects simply
the ability to create more. The prefrontal regions
are especially active during the creative process,
regardless of whether the creative thought is
effortful or spontaneous
 Characteristics of Highly
creative individuals
-High motivation to be creative
-Non-conformity and dedication to maintain standards
-Belief in the value of the creative work and willingness to
improve it
-Careful selection of problems or subjects to focus on
-Thought processes characterized by insight and divergent thinkin

-Willingness to take risks

 CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ACCEPTS THE
CURRENT PARADIGM
Replication Redefinition Forward Advance
Movement Forward
represents an represents an represents an Movement
effort to show that effort to redefine attempt to move
represents an
a given field is where the field the field forward
attempt to move
where it should currently is. in the direction in
the field forward
be. which it already is
in the direction i
moving, and the
is already going.
contribution takes
the field to a
point where others
are ready for the
field to go.
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT REJECT THE
CURRENT PARADIGM
Redirection Reconstruction Reinitation

represents an attempt represents an attempt represents an

to move the field to move the field attempt to move the
from where it is back to where it once field to a different
toward a new and was (a reconstruction and as yet not
different direction. of the past) so that reached starting
the field may move point. It then moves
onward from that the field in a
point. different direction
from that point.
 Contribution that merge disparate
current paradigms

Integration
represents an attempt to move the field by putting
together aspects of two or more past kinds of creative
contributions that formerly were viewed as distinct or
even opposed. Now they are seen as synthesized.
What is viewed as creative will
depend on what an individual
offer and what the context is
willing to accept and value.
What is viewed as creative will
depend on what an individual
offer and what the context is
willing to accept and value.

Thankyou