Describe Thorndike's "response selection" explanation of problem solving behavior.
Explain Kohler's evidence for insightful problem solving in chimps and why the behaviorists could not explain it.
Describe the Gestalt approach of "restructuring" as an explanation of insightful problem solving.
Recognize the steps of problem solving according to the Gestalt approach and explain a criticism of this approach.
Describe Newell and Simon's information processing approach to problem solving. (click here to see an example)
Recognize definitions of: elements, states, operators, constraints, and problem space.
Describe the problem solving process according to this approach.
Describe the "weak methods" used by novices.
Explain the differences between novices and experts in problem solving.
Explain the advantage of the information processing approach to problem solving over the earlier behaviorist and Gestalt approaches.