Effective Problem Solving and Decision-Making Techniques
Problem Solving Strategies
Our minds actively select and interpret sensory data. Typically, we transform and organize external data so that they fit our existing mental framework. There are three aspects of problem-solving:
Interpretation
It is the first step in problem-solving. The importance of problem representation is shown by the fact that a problem represented or categorized in one way may be difficult to solve, while the same problem represented differently may be solved easily.
Strategy and Evaluation
When there are only a limited number of solutions to a problem, trial and error may be the best way to find the correct one. At other times, a problem may be solved simply by going back over information. But more complex problems require more complex problem-solving strategies.
Obstacles to Solving Problems
A factor that can help or hinder problem-solving is mental set – a tendency to perceive and approach problems in certain ways. Sets allow us to draw on past experience to solve a present problem. One way to reduce the effect of mental sets is to stop thinking about the problem for a while and then return to it from a new angle. Another way to minimize mental sets is the technique of brainstorming – an individual or group collects numerous ideas and evaluates them only after all possible ideas have been collected.
Decision-Making Mechanisms
Unlike other kinds of problem-solving, decision-making starts off with knowledge of all possible solutions or choices. There are four types:
Logical Decision Making
A logical approach is to select a set of criteria, rate each of the choices on those criteria, and add up the ratings to see how well each choice matches the criteria. This is called the compensatory model of decision-making. However, it does not work well for many day-to-day decisions where we do not have all of the relevant information. In those cases, decisions are most often made on the basis of heuristics.
Decision-Making Heuristics
When we lack complete or accurate information, we may end up judging a new situation in terms of its resemblance to a more familiar model – the representativeness heuristic. Heuristics are rules that help in simplifying and solving problems, although they do not guarantee a correct solution.
Framing
The term framing refers to the perspective or phrasing of information that is used to make a decision. Subtle changes in the information presented can dramatically affect the final decision, even though the facts remain the same.
Decisions Under Pressure
The stress of an emergency situation may cause decision-making to deteriorate. Training under simulated emergency conditions can prepare people to make better decisions under such conditions.
Most people think over their decisions after the fact. The term hindsight bias refers to the tendency to view results as inevitable and predictable after they are known. Counterfactual thinking refers to thinking about alternative realities that are counter to the fact. For example, “what if…?” “if only…?” as a way of mentally reversing a course of events that led to a negative experience.