What Is Problem Solving?

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CONTENTS OF 48-PAGE GUIDE
> What This Guide Can Do for You
> What Is Problem Solving?
> An Overview of Problem Solving
> Lessons on the Basic Theories of the Scientific Method of Problem Solving
> Use of Intuition
> Short Model Formula, SM-4
> Full Model Formula, SM-14
> The Various Organized & Little Sciences of Problem Solving
> Importance of Supporting Ingredients
> Review of the Basic Theory of the Scientific Method of Problem Solving

STEPS OR STAGES of the SCIENTIFIC METHOD of PROBLEM SOLVING - two pages on each
1.  Curious Observation
2.  Is There a Problem?
3.  Goals & Planning
4.  Search, Explore, & Gather the Evidence
5.  Generative Creative & Logical Alternative Solutions
6.  Evaluate the Evidence
7.  Make the Educated Guess (Hypothesis)
8.  Challenge the Hypothesis
9.  Reach a Conclusion 10.  Suspend Judgment
11.  Take Action

Supporting Ingredients
12.  Creative, Non-logical, Logical, & Technical Methods
13.  Procedural Principles & Theories
14.  Attributes & Thinking Skills

> Creative Problem Solving
> Group Problem Solving
> Management Problem Solving
> Problem Solving Activity
> Your Guide & Worksheet
> About the Author
> Index of Essays on Problem Solving
> Problem Solving Site Map

The literature contains a wide variety of definitions of What Is Problem Solving? Some of the interesting ones follow.

Thinking Skills Type as Described in the Literature

The mental or thought processes involved in problem solving

Process of reasoning is one of problem solving

The intelligence or ability to solve problems

Problem Solving Process Type as Described in the Literature

Is a process - you know where you are and where you are going

A description of the problem solving process is essentially a statement of the learning process

Problem solving is the process of overcoming difficulties or obstacles encountered in the attainment of a goal or objective

The process whereby a "best" value is determined for some objective or unknown subject

Problem Solving Definition - Short Ones from the Literature

Thwarted purpose

Perplexity, hesitation, doubt

Something doesn't fit our expectations

Present or initial state and goal state

Define Problem Solving - Quotes of Expert Authors on Problem Solving

"Wants something and does not know immediately what series of actions he can perform to get it." (Newell and Simon, 1972)

"Whenever there is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, and you don't know how to find a way to cross the gap you have a problem. (Hayes, 1989)

A problem could be defined as a stimulus situation for which an organism does not have a ready response." (Woods et al., 1980)

"Problem solving involves the selection of one or more courses of action (means) in the pursuit of one or more courses of action (ends)." (Ackoff, 1978)

"A state of affairs you must change in some way in order to get what you want." (Albrecht, 1980)

Summary

In answering What Is Problem Solving? I have presented thinking skill types, problem solving process, short problem solving definitions, and defined problem solving with quotes. Probably the simple definition used most often is:

Present or Initial State and Goal State