The Problem Spaces
The newborn infant begins life with a complex set of inherited mechanisms. However, he or she also begins life relatively "content free," like a computer which has yet to be programmed. But as development occurs, information gets stored away, to be used later in helping to solve problems. Since different contents relate to different kinds of problems they are stored in different "problem spaces", presumably in the brain. Accordingly, informationprocessing theory says that problem solving takes place by search within a given problem space. When a problem comes up, we must first perceive the nature of it. Previous experience is helpful in both recognizing and understanding the problem. Next, we must Eearch for a similar problem with its given problem space or, if one does not exist, we must construct one. Much of our intellectual activity consists of searching, changing, and modifying stored information in the course of seeking a solution.
Quite often, in our daily activities, stored information is ready for our use. For example, we enter a department store and ask:
"Where do I find the sports department?" "Second floor, down the center aisle and to the left." "Thank you," and off we go with confidence because all the information is relevant to us. Progress in problem solving comes as the new gets integrated with the old, and for human beings this is a very rapid process. In as little as 100 milliseconds symbols can be stored. Thus, the possibilities for storage of new information in the brain are enormous, while searching through a problem space, selecting, and executing some solution can take place rapidly. Thus, we can make a split-second decision to head for the side of the road when we see a skidding car coming toward us. Of course, problem solving can be long and drawn out as we put more and more information into the various problem spaces; the long time spent in career decision making is an example.
Over a period of time, with each week or year of life, we are informationally richer than we were before. We have built into our problem-solving system a multitude of problem spaces that enable us to deal with decisions, to work math problems, or to plan our strategies for a campus dance. To repeat, problem solving is a very orderly process, even when we are dealing with a very complex problem in human relations.
The newborn infant begins life with a complex set of inherited mechanisms. However, he or she also begins life relatively "content free," like a computer which has yet to be programmed. But as development occurs, information gets stored away, to be used later in helping to solve problems. Since different contents relate to different kinds of problems they are stored in different "problem spaces", presumably in the brain. Accordingly, informationprocessing theory says that problem solving takes place by search within a given problem space. When a problem comes up, we must first perceive the nature of it. Previous experience is helpful in both recognizing and understanding the problem. Next, we must Eearch for a similar problem with its given problem space or, if one does not exist, we must construct one. Much of our intellectual activity consists of searching, changing, and modifying stored information in the course of seeking a solution.
Quite often, in our daily activities, stored information is ready for our use. For example, we enter a department store and ask:
"Where do I find the sports department?" "Second floor, down the center aisle and to the left." "Thank you," and off we go with confidence because all the information is relevant to us. Progress in problem solving comes as the new gets integrated with the old, and for human beings this is a very rapid process. In as little as 100 milliseconds symbols can be stored. Thus, the possibilities for storage of new information in the brain are enormous, while searching through a problem space, selecting, and executing some solution can take place rapidly. Thus, we can make a split-second decision to head for the side of the road when we see a skidding car coming toward us. Of course, problem solving can be long and drawn out as we put more and more information into the various problem spaces; the long time spent in career decision making is an example.
Over a period of time, with each week or year of life, we are informationally richer than we were before. We have built into our problem-solving system a multitude of problem spaces that enable us to deal with decisions, to work math problems, or to plan our strategies for a campus dance. To repeat, problem solving is a very orderly process, even when we are dealing with a very complex problem in human relations.
