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Effective Problem Solving
For freshman through senior-level courses on Critical Thinking, Cognition, or Problem Solving.
160 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 1993
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October 28, 2015
Very interesting book. It gives general methods to solve problems, acting on a wide range, from Mathematics to interpersonal problems. If focuses on Prescriptive principles, i.e. how you should solve problems, rather than descriptive ones. The book is composed of 4 sections: Intimate Engagement, Special Features, Lateral Thinking, Interpersonal problem Solving. Each section ends with a handful of exercises.
Intimate Engagement: This has a motivational emphasis. One should try to ignore the threat of failure and engage with the problem using a positive attitude. This is the first step to have a better understanding of the problem, by giving it time and energy.
* Use your eyes, visualize the problem task mentally and physically.
* To solve tasks in a complex domain, learn as much as you can about it.
* The conscious mind has a limited amount of activity it can perform, so you should use pen and paper to externalize whenever you can (e.g. try to multiply mentally 1789 by 9834). This way you do not need to memorize less relevant facts ( e.g. sequence of numbers, etc)
* Visualize is important to better comprehending, which produces better remembering.
* Do not tolerate confusion. Push to penetrate until having a complete understanding of the problem.
* Memory: Marvin explains the technique of associating number with (rhymed) words. This way you can remember better a list of words by making visual associations.
Special Features: This is how the material of the problem can provide us hints on how to proceed.
* Search special features on both the input space, and the solution space
* Unusual configuration in a problem space is frequently a hint indicating a starting point
* Look at extremes: This is a special case of the above, testing boundary conditions
* Simplify the problem: If you are blocked, try to solve a simpler, related problem
Lateral Thinking: If the strategy you used is not working, try to think differently.
* Avoid Functional blindness: do not get caught in the trap of previous successes, strong habits. Try to see the problem in a new way, coming from a different perspective.
* Brainstorming: Respect Crude ideas, don't judge.
* Intermediate impossible: Deliberately think of an impossible solution and play freely with it.
* Random Associations: Pick a random word, use it to think the problem in a new way.
* Analogies: Use an analogy with someone in the nature for instance.
Interpersonal Problem Solving: Marvin divides these into 2 categories, according to be one of the 2 people in the situation or not.
* Take a problem-solving stance: Train to be a problem solver in many situations per day. Try to be rational, solving the problem and avoiding (undesirable) side effects.
* Right speech: Make good eye contact, use I-Talk (e.g. I feel bad because... , instead of "you're such a slob!").
* Comic Parry: Keep it light.
* Solving Other people's problems: let it happen, take the problem-solving stance, avoid bias, don't judge. When people are stucked, use the "What if" principle
Intimate Engagement: This has a motivational emphasis. One should try to ignore the threat of failure and engage with the problem using a positive attitude. This is the first step to have a better understanding of the problem, by giving it time and energy.
* Use your eyes, visualize the problem task mentally and physically.
* To solve tasks in a complex domain, learn as much as you can about it.
* The conscious mind has a limited amount of activity it can perform, so you should use pen and paper to externalize whenever you can (e.g. try to multiply mentally 1789 by 9834). This way you do not need to memorize less relevant facts ( e.g. sequence of numbers, etc)
* Visualize is important to better comprehending, which produces better remembering.
* Do not tolerate confusion. Push to penetrate until having a complete understanding of the problem.
* Memory: Marvin explains the technique of associating number with (rhymed) words. This way you can remember better a list of words by making visual associations.
Special Features: This is how the material of the problem can provide us hints on how to proceed.
* Search special features on both the input space, and the solution space
* Unusual configuration in a problem space is frequently a hint indicating a starting point
* Look at extremes: This is a special case of the above, testing boundary conditions
* Simplify the problem: If you are blocked, try to solve a simpler, related problem
Lateral Thinking: If the strategy you used is not working, try to think differently.
* Avoid Functional blindness: do not get caught in the trap of previous successes, strong habits. Try to see the problem in a new way, coming from a different perspective.
* Brainstorming: Respect Crude ideas, don't judge.
* Intermediate impossible: Deliberately think of an impossible solution and play freely with it.
* Random Associations: Pick a random word, use it to think the problem in a new way.
* Analogies: Use an analogy with someone in the nature for instance.
Interpersonal Problem Solving: Marvin divides these into 2 categories, according to be one of the 2 people in the situation or not.
* Take a problem-solving stance: Train to be a problem solver in many situations per day. Try to be rational, solving the problem and avoiding (undesirable) side effects.
* Right speech: Make good eye contact, use I-Talk (e.g. I feel bad because... , instead of "you're such a slob!").
* Comic Parry: Keep it light.
* Solving Other people's problems: let it happen, take the problem-solving stance, avoid bias, don't judge. When people are stucked, use the "What if" principle
Displaying 1 of 1 review