1. Problem Solving

2. Heuristics  Rule of Thumb  Quick, Easy, Usually Accurate  Not systematic, not step by step  Can lead to bias or inaccurate problem solving.

3. Heuristics  In the English language, does the letter “K” appear more frequently as the first letter or third letter of more words? Availability (available examples)  Is the population of Brazil more or less than 50,000,000? Anchoring/Adjustment  Who is more likely to be short, slim, and likes to read poetry?  Truck Driver  Ivy League professor of classics. Representativeness (stereotypes)

4. Algorithm  Can be time consuming  Step by Step, Systematic  Guarantees an accurate solution  Brown Skirt

5. Obstacles to Problem Solving  Confirmation Bias: Eagerness to search for information that confirms our ideas. We seek evidence verifying our ideas more eagerly than we seek evidence that might refute them. 2-4-6  Guess the rule used to devise the series.  Generate your own set of 3 numbers that conform to my rule. I will tell you if it conforms or not.

6. Fixation  Fixation: The inability to see a problem from a new perspective, an impediment to solving a problem. Using these materials how would you mount the candle to a bulletin board?

7. Still Fixated on Fixation  Mental Set: Predisposes how we think. We tend to approach problems in ways that have worked for us previously.  O-T-T-F-__-__-__  J-F-M-A-__-__-__-__-__-__-__-__  J-F-M-A-M-J-J-A-S-O-N-D  Functional Fixedness: Our tendency to think of only the familiar functions for objects, without imagining alternative uses. (Apollo 13 Clip)