Back
Problem solving is considered as a part of thinking. But the rational and cognitive part of the human beeing is only a very little one. Refering to Problem Solving, Psychologists use the following terms : the most complex of all intellectual functions, or even the higher-order cognitive process, etc.
I personnally think that intuition is the boosting element of Problem Solving. Consequently, in this very short introduction to problem solving I shall constantly remind this.
Intuition should be considered as a very important element of any Problem Solving skill. Computers and Artificial Intelligence will never replace all human skills for Problem Solving, because computer and artificial intelligence are not able to develop cognitive processes based on emotions, but are only able to process data following a set of rules previously accepted by a human beeing. The only possibility to introduce emotions in artificial intelligence consists in elaborating organic machines for Solving Problems, maybe in a very next future, and the major difference between the machine and the human beeing, is the capacity of experiencing emotions.
First example of the role of intuition in Problem solving:
Problem finding : could be defined as the ability to find a problem, to be aware that something is missing, and what is missing. Being aware of a missing element suppose a high degree of instuition because the missing element is not a part of the problem and consequently can not always be found logically. At the contrary, intuition will help you to process a very high quantity of elements, given that intuition works quicker than the rational part of the mind.
Second example of the role of intuition in Problem Solving:
Problem shaping or framing : Being aware of a problem is of course not sufficient to finalize the solving process. You first have to frame the problem, if you do not want to lose your time, or to lose yourself in a mental neverending story. Framing the problem is an intuitive process. The number of elements is so high that you can consider or process all of them in the same time, or in a very short delay. If you want to process them quickly, let your intuition make it, instaed using your rationnal mind.
Solving problems is a "trough the time" and "in the time" activity, or in other words, that means that solving a problems is an experience, and that the person solving the problem is a part of the experience and is also living an experience.
What is a problem'
The problem is defined as a situation, matter, or person that presents perplexity or difficulty
a difficult question or situation with an unknown or unclear answer. An other focus is the following: a negative situation, a challenge or even an opportunity.
What does "solving a problem" mean?
Dictionnaries are not really helpful. "Find the solution to a problem or a question" is a very frequent statement.
If you want to define "solving a problem" you have to live the hole process as an experience, even as a personnal one, fixe your goals and consider as a problem, all the obstacles you are going to find on the path to accomplishment. Some problems a easy to solve, but if you are ambitious, it is quite possible that you will have to face rather difficult problems. That is why you can find hereafter some cahracteritsics of difficult poblems.
SOME TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS
Intransparency (lack of clarity of the situation)
1) Commencement opacity : when we begin trying to solve a problem, sometimes we are feeling confused because we do not know to define, to characterize or to focus the problem. If all the problems were easy to solve, you efforts would not have any sense! Think positively, enjoy it, and involve yourself, then your intuition will flow from the inside to the outside, and make easy to define clear and precisely the problem.
2) Continuation opacity : some times we know the characteristics of the problem at the beginning of the solving process, but later, during the process we are feeling lost because additionnal concepts are making us confused. If you do not want to feel confuse when solving a problem, be aware of the continuation opacity. Many people think that continuation opacity, because they ingnore the existence of such a concept, indicates that they are thinking and reasonning badly, meanwhile they could be walking on the right path, and continuation opoacity could just be a sign that there are solving the problem.
Polytely (multiple goals)
1) Inexpressiveness : Expressiveness add sense to a problem presentation.
2) Opposition : all kind of resistence during the solving activity
3) Transience : the property of not existing for indefinitely long durations
Complexity (large numbers of items, interrelations, and decisions)
1) Enumerability : quality of items capable of being put into one-to-one correspondence
2) Connectivity : hierarchy relation, communication relation, allocation relation
3) Heterogeneity : the quality of being diverse and not comparable in kind
Dynamics (time considerations)
1) Temporal constraints : is about how time affect the problem solving
2) Temporal sensitivity : strictly, the time course of our attention affects our perception.
3) Phase effects : the phase in which an event occurs changes its perception.
4) Dynamic unpredictability : during the solving process, unpredictability tends to grow
Problem solving is considered as a part of thinking. But the rational and cognitive part of the human beeing is only a very little one. Refering to Problem Solving, Psychologists use the following terms : the most complex of all intellectual functions, or even the higher-order cognitive process, etc.
I personnally think that intuition is the boosting element of Problem Solving. Consequently, in this very short introduction to problem solving I shall constantly remind this.
Intuition should be considered as a very important element of any Problem Solving skill. Computers and Artificial Intelligence will never replace all human skills for Problem Solving, because computer and artificial intelligence are not able to develop cognitive processes based on emotions, but are only able to process data following a set of rules previously accepted by a human beeing. The only possibility to introduce emotions in artificial intelligence consists in elaborating organic machines for Solving Problems, maybe in a very next future, and the major difference between the machine and the human beeing, is the capacity of experiencing emotions.
First example of the role of intuition in Problem solving:
Problem finding : could be defined as the ability to find a problem, to be aware that something is missing, and what is missing. Being aware of a missing element suppose a high degree of instuition because the missing element is not a part of the problem and consequently can not always be found logically. At the contrary, intuition will help you to process a very high quantity of elements, given that intuition works quicker than the rational part of the mind.
Second example of the role of intuition in Problem Solving:
Problem shaping or framing : Being aware of a problem is of course not sufficient to finalize the solving process. You first have to frame the problem, if you do not want to lose your time, or to lose yourself in a mental neverending story. Framing the problem is an intuitive process. The number of elements is so high that you can consider or process all of them in the same time, or in a very short delay. If you want to process them quickly, let your intuition make it, instaed using your rationnal mind.
Solving problems is a "trough the time" and "in the time" activity, or in other words, that means that solving a problems is an experience, and that the person solving the problem is a part of the experience and is also living an experience.
What is a problem'
The problem is defined as a situation, matter, or person that presents perplexity or difficulty
a difficult question or situation with an unknown or unclear answer. An other focus is the following: a negative situation, a challenge or even an opportunity.
What does "solving a problem" mean?
Dictionnaries are not really helpful. "Find the solution to a problem or a question" is a very frequent statement.
If you want to define "solving a problem" you have to live the hole process as an experience, even as a personnal one, fixe your goals and consider as a problem, all the obstacles you are going to find on the path to accomplishment. Some problems a easy to solve, but if you are ambitious, it is quite possible that you will have to face rather difficult problems. That is why you can find hereafter some cahracteritsics of difficult poblems.
SOME TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFICULT PROBLEMS
Intransparency (lack of clarity of the situation)
1) Commencement opacity : when we begin trying to solve a problem, sometimes we are feeling confused because we do not know to define, to characterize or to focus the problem. If all the problems were easy to solve, you efforts would not have any sense! Think positively, enjoy it, and involve yourself, then your intuition will flow from the inside to the outside, and make easy to define clear and precisely the problem.
2) Continuation opacity : some times we know the characteristics of the problem at the beginning of the solving process, but later, during the process we are feeling lost because additionnal concepts are making us confused. If you do not want to feel confuse when solving a problem, be aware of the continuation opacity. Many people think that continuation opacity, because they ingnore the existence of such a concept, indicates that they are thinking and reasonning badly, meanwhile they could be walking on the right path, and continuation opoacity could just be a sign that there are solving the problem.
Polytely (multiple goals)
1) Inexpressiveness : Expressiveness add sense to a problem presentation.
2) Opposition : all kind of resistence during the solving activity
3) Transience : the property of not existing for indefinitely long durations
Complexity (large numbers of items, interrelations, and decisions)
1) Enumerability : quality of items capable of being put into one-to-one correspondence
2) Connectivity : hierarchy relation, communication relation, allocation relation
3) Heterogeneity : the quality of being diverse and not comparable in kind
Dynamics (time considerations)
1) Temporal constraints : is about how time affect the problem solving
2) Temporal sensitivity : strictly, the time course of our attention affects our perception.
3) Phase effects : the phase in which an event occurs changes its perception.
4) Dynamic unpredictability : during the solving process, unpredictability tends to grow
SOME PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES VERY BRIEFLY EXPLAINED
Divide and conquer: break down a large, complex problem into smaller
Means-end analysis : setting of subgoals
Trial-and-error : recurrent selection of possible answers until selecting a successful one
Brainstorming : group creativity technique designed to generate a large number of ideas
Morphological analysis : solving a multi-dimensional, non-quantified problem complex
Method of focal objects : synthesizing non-matching characteristics of different objects
Lateral thinking : is about moving sideways to try different perceptions
Research: study what others have written about the problem
Assumption reversal : write down your assumptions about the problem, and then reverse them all
Analogy : has a similar problem (possibly in a different field) been solved before?
Hypothesis testing : assuming a possible explanation and trying to prove the assumption.
Constraint examination : assuming a constraint which doesn't really exist
Root Cause Analysis : identifying the root causes of problems or events.
Working Backwards : starting with the end results and reversing the steps
Forward-Looking Strategy : uses future events as expectations or possibilities
Simplification : an explanation that omits superfluous details and reduces complexity
Generalization : one or more common characteristics shared by a set of elements.
Specialization : applying general knowledge to specific instances
Random Search : methods based on the notion of randomly searching over the domain of interest
Split-Half Method : get two sets of scores from one test, odd and even items, then correlate
The GROW model : Goal - Current Reality - Options - Will
Image : Illustration of Doppler Effect
See Phase Effects
See Phase Effects
__________________________________________________
*Based on work by Dietrich Dörner Joachim Funke, difficult problems have typical characteristics:
Back
