Effective Problem Solving
2nd Edition
Published on 1. January 1994
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-13-245481-0 (ISBN)
Description
For freshman through senior-level courses on Critical Thinking, Cognition, or Problem Solving.
This brief survey of creative problem solving offers a collection of specific, practical procedures that one should use for various classes of problems - ranging from machines that need repairing, to mathematical puzzles, engineering problems, poorly defined industrial problems, comprehending lectures and reading, remembering information, invention, and difficulties between people.
The principles - which are based on research and theory in cognitive psychology - are applied to problems in daily living and focus on how to overcome one's own limitations in trying to solve a problem. Students thus learn principles for dealing with problems as well as what it is about themselves that can make the problem more or less difficult.
This brief survey of creative problem solving offers a collection of specific, practical procedures that one should use for various classes of problems - ranging from machines that need repairing, to mathematical puzzles, engineering problems, poorly defined industrial problems, comprehending lectures and reading, remembering information, invention, and difficulties between people.
The principles - which are based on research and theory in cognitive psychology - are applied to problems in daily living and focus on how to overcome one's own limitations in trying to solve a problem. Students thus learn principles for dealing with problems as well as what it is about themselves that can make the problem more or less difficult.
More details
Content
I. PRESCRIPTIVE PRINCIPLES.
1. Descriptive and Prescriptive Principles.
II. INTIMATE ENGAGEMENT.
2. The Principle of Intimate Engagement.
3. Externalize: The Intimate Engagement of Mathematical and Logical Puzzles.
4. Visualize: The Problem of Comprehension.
5. Visualize: Committing Information to Memory.
Exercises for Intimate Engagement.
III. SPECIAL FEATURES.
6. Special Features of the Problem Space.
7. Go to the Extremes.
8. Simplify the Problem.
Exercises for Special Features.
IV. LATERAL THINKING.
9. Don't Be Blind.
10. Facilitate Flexibility.
Exercises for Lateral Thinking.
V. INTERPERSONAL PROBLEM SOLVING.
11. The Problem-Solving Stance.
12. Right Speech: How to Give Criticism.
13. Solving Other People's Problems: Let It Happen.
Exercises for Interpersonal Problem Solving.
VI. OVERVIEW.
14. Summary and Conclusions.
Appendices.
References.
Index.
1. Descriptive and Prescriptive Principles.
II. INTIMATE ENGAGEMENT.
2. The Principle of Intimate Engagement.
3. Externalize: The Intimate Engagement of Mathematical and Logical Puzzles.
4. Visualize: The Problem of Comprehension.
5. Visualize: Committing Information to Memory.
Exercises for Intimate Engagement.
III. SPECIAL FEATURES.
6. Special Features of the Problem Space.
7. Go to the Extremes.
8. Simplify the Problem.
Exercises for Special Features.
IV. LATERAL THINKING.
9. Don't Be Blind.
10. Facilitate Flexibility.
Exercises for Lateral Thinking.
V. INTERPERSONAL PROBLEM SOLVING.
11. The Problem-Solving Stance.
12. Right Speech: How to Give Criticism.
13. Solving Other People's Problems: Let It Happen.
Exercises for Interpersonal Problem Solving.
VI. OVERVIEW.
14. Summary and Conclusions.
Appendices.
References.
Index.