The Problem-Solving Mind — Module Assessment

Question 1

In the problem-space model, what is an "operator"?

Accepted Answer

A move that turns one state of the problem into another

Answer

The person trying to solve the problem

Answer

The emotional urgency driving a decision

Answer

The single correct answer the solver is searching for

Question 2

What is the core loop of means-end analysis?

Accepted Answer

Identify the biggest difference between the current state and the goal, then apply a move that reduces it, setting subgoals as needed

Answer

List every possible move, then pick the one with the best long-run payoff

Answer

Wait calmly until the whole solution appears at once

Answer

Copy the last solution that worked on a similar problem

Question 3

What best describes "restructuring" in insight problem-solving?

Accepted Answer

Reorganising how the problem is represented so a hidden solution becomes visible

Answer

Searching the problem space faster than usual

Answer

Breaking a large goal into smaller subgoals

Answer

Rewarding yourself after each small step of progress

Question 4

According to the lesson, when is incubation most likely to help?

Accepted Answer

After you have genuinely worked on the problem and hit a real impasse

Answer

Before you have engaged with the problem at all

Answer

Only for problems that have a single guaranteed answer

Answer

Whenever you want to avoid doing the hard work

Question 5

In Duncker's candle problem, people solve it more easily when the tack box is presented empty rather than full. Why?

Accepted Answer

A full box is seen as a container, which hides its use as a shelf — functional fixedness.

Answer

An empty box is lighter and easier to lift onto the wall.

Answer

A full box holds fewer tacks, so the wall is less crowded.

Answer

An empty box signals that the tacks are the intended solution.

Question 6

In Luchins's water-jar experiments, what did the practised group tend to do when a simpler solution became available?

Accepted Answer

They kept using the longer learned method and often missed the simpler one.

Answer

They immediately switched to the simplest possible method.

Answer

They refused to attempt any further problems.

Answer

They solved every problem faster than the control group.

Question 7

In Gick and Holyoak's radiation-problem experiments, what most reliably raised the number of people who applied the fortress story?

Accepted Answer

Hinting that people should relate the story to the problem.

Answer

Making the radiation problem easier to read.

Answer

Giving people more time to work alone.

Answer

Adding vivid surface detail to the tumour scenario.

Question 8

Which pairing best captures a USEFUL analogy for solving a new problem?

Accepted Answer

Two problems that share the same deep structure of forces and constraints, even if they look unrelated.

Answer

Two problems that use the same vocabulary and setting.

Answer

Two problems from the same field of expertise.

Answer

Two problems of roughly equal difficulty.

Question 9

In Chase and Simon's chess experiments, chess masters recalled real game positions far better than novices, but on randomly arranged boards their advantage nearly disappeared. What does this show?

Accepted Answer

The masters' skill is pattern recognition of meaningful positions, not raw memory

Answer

Masters have superior general memory that works for any material

Answer

Novices concentrate better under time pressure

Answer

Random boards are inherently easier to memorise

Question 10

Which behaviour is most characteristic of experts compared with novices when facing a problem?

Accepted Answer

They spend more time understanding and classifying the problem before acting

Answer

They immediately start manipulating equations to reach the answer fast

Answer

They sort problems by surface features such as 'pulley' or 'spring'

Answer

They rely on trial and error until something works

Question 11

Which of the following is the clearest example of an ill-structured problem?

Accepted Answer

Deciding how to improve your company's customer retention

Answer

Solving a Sudoku grid

Answer

Balancing a chequebook

Answer

Completing a jigsaw puzzle

Question 12

According to Herbert Simon's analysis, what is often a necessary first step in tackling an ill-structured problem?

Accepted Answer

Converting the fuzzy problem into better-defined sub-problems you can work on

Answer

Waiting until all relevant information has been gathered

Answer

Searching exhaustively for the single optimal solution

Answer

Treating it exactly like a well-defined puzzle

Question 13

According to this lesson and the expert-novice research, what most reliably separates strong problem-solvers from weaker ones on hard problems?

Accepted Answer

They spend proportionally more time understanding and representing the problem before attempting a solution

Answer

They reach a plausible solution faster than everyone else

Answer

They rely on natural talent rather than acquired habits

Answer

They avoid analogies and stick to first principles

Question 14

You have been grinding at a hard problem for an hour with no progress. Which response best reflects the integrated practice this lesson describes?

Accepted Answer

Suspect fixation or a mis-framing, re-represent the problem or seek an analogy, and step away to let incubation work

Answer

Conclude you lack the ability and hand the problem to someone else

Answer

Push harder without pause, since more effort is what solving requires

Answer

Assume the problem is unsolvable and abandon it