According to Skinner (1968), Problem Solving is a process of overcoming difficulties that appear to interfere with the attainment of a goal. It is a procedure of making adjustment in spite of interferences. If we have no ready means of achieving a goal or answering a question, then we have a problem to solve. Problem solving is a deliberate and serious act, involves the use of some novel methods, higher thinking and systematic scientific steps for the realization of the set goals. There are two aspects to the study of problem-solving behaviour. One of them is to examine the logical ways in which solutions to problems may be discovered, and to specify procedures that will help people become more effective problem solvers. The other is to discover how people actually solve problems and to understand the thought processes involved.
Problem solving may be obstructed by a mental set that leads someone to apply an inappropriate solution technique because it has worked for other problems that appear similar but are not. It can also be hampered by functional fixedness, which is the tendency to see an object as having only one use rather than several different ones. Analogical thinking allows us to solve new problems by referring to old problems with the same structure, although people often make the mistake of applying it to problems which are similar only in content. Incubation (gather information about the problem, explore its structure and then set the matter aside for a period of time) may also assist problem solving by encouraging those processes thought to be responsible for insight.
Stages of Problem Solving:
Identifying the problem: Becoming aware regarding the difficulty or problem that needs a solution
Defining and representing the problem: Defining the problem in terms of the specific goals and objectives. All the difficulties and obstacles in the path of the solution are to be properly named and identified.
Formulating a strategy: Thinking about various possibilities for the solution of the problem.
Organization of information: Collecting relevant information about the problem through all possible sources.
Resource Allocation: Finding and establishing the relevant resources to solve the problem.
Monitoring: supervising the progress towards a solution in order to detect the errors if any, in the early stage itself.Evaluation: Determining the strengths and weaknesses of the way in which the other stages were implemented.
Problem solving may be obstructed by a mental set that leads someone to apply an inappropriate solution technique because it has worked for other problems that appear similar but are not. It can also be hampered by functional fixedness, which is the tendency to see an object as having only one use rather than several different ones. Analogical thinking allows us to solve new problems by referring to old problems with the same structure, although people often make the mistake of applying it to problems which are similar only in content. Incubation (gather information about the problem, explore its structure and then set the matter aside for a period of time) may also assist problem solving by encouraging those processes thought to be responsible for insight.
Stages of Problem Solving:
Identifying the problem: Becoming aware regarding the difficulty or problem that needs a solution
Defining and representing the problem: Defining the problem in terms of the specific goals and objectives. All the difficulties and obstacles in the path of the solution are to be properly named and identified.
Formulating a strategy: Thinking about various possibilities for the solution of the problem.
Organization of information: Collecting relevant information about the problem through all possible sources.
Resource Allocation: Finding and establishing the relevant resources to solve the problem.
Monitoring: supervising the progress towards a solution in order to detect the errors if any, in the early stage itself.Evaluation: Determining the strengths and weaknesses of the way in which the other stages were implemented.
No comments:
Post a Comment