Problem solving: perspectives from cognition and neuroscience

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Author

Robertson, S. Ian

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Date

2017.

Language

English

Description

The way that we assess and overcome problems is an essential part of everyday life. Problem Solving provides a clear introduction to the underlying mental processes involved in solving problems. Drawing on research from cognitive psychology and neuroscience, it examines the methods and techniques used by both novices and experts in familiar and unfamiliar situations. This edition has been comprehensively updated throughout, and now features cutting-edge content on creative problem solving, insight and neuroscience. Each chapter is written in an accessible way, and contains a range of student-friendly features such as activities, chapter summaries and further reading. The book also provides clear examples of studies and approaches that help the reader fully understand important and complex concepts in greater detail. Problem Solving fully engages the reader with the difficulties and methodologies associated with problem solving. This book will be of great use to undergraduate students of cognitive psychology, education and neuroscience, as well as readers and professionals with an interest in problem solving.

More Details

ISBN

9781315712796
9781317496014
9781317496007

From the eBook - Second edition.

Cover; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Preface; 1 What is involved in problem solving; What exactly is a problem?; Where do problems come from?; "Natural" and "unnatural" problems; What's involved in solving problems?; Approaches to the study of problem solving; Categorising problems; Summary; References; 2 Problem representation; Representations and processes; Analysing well-defined problems; The interaction of the problem solver and the task environment; Heuristic search strategies; Summary; References; 3 Transfer; Negative transfer

mental set; Mechanisms of knowledge transfer

Transfer in well-defined problemsStudies of analogical problem solving; Cognitive processes in analogical problem solving; Types of similarity; When relational structures are ignored; Summary; References; 4 Worked examples and instructional design; Difficulties facing textbook writers; The role of examples in textbooks; The processes involved in textbook problem solving; Understanding problems revisited; Approaches to the design of instruction; Conclusion; Summary; References; 5 Developing skill; Induction; Schema development and the effects of automatisation; Cognitive architectures

Potential criticisms of cognitive modelsSummary; References; 6 Developing expertise; Stage models of expertise; The intermediate effect; What distinguishes experts and novices; Are experts smarter? Are there differences in abilities?; Is expertise due to talent or deliberate practice?; Does expertise cross domains?; Cognitive processes in expertise; Flexibility in thinking; Some potential side effects of expertise . . .; Summary; References; 7 Insight; Insight problems; Gestalt accounts of problem solving; Information processing approaches to insight; Classifying insight problems

Insight as something specialInsight as "business as usual"; Representational change theory (redistribution theory); Summary; References; 8 Creative problem solving; Breaking free of self-imposed constraints; Creative individuals; Theories of creativity: generation, evaluation and selection; CoRT; Synectics; Creative Problem Solving (CPS)

Osborn-Parnes; Summary; References; 9 The neuroscience of problem solving; Methods used in studying brain functions; Arithmetic in the brain; Stages in problem solving; Neurological processes in analogical reasoning; Neurocomputational models

Designing instruction

what can studies of the brain tell us?Neurological aspects of insight and creativity; Summary; References; 10 Conclusion; Problems, problems; References; Index