Problem Solving and Creativity

Directions:
Select the BEST response alternative for each of the questions below.

	1.	The set of all states that can be reached in solving the problem is what cognitive psychologists refer to as:
		A)	the infinity gauntlet.
		B)	a problem universe.
		C)	the problem space.
		D)	a hypothetical mental construct.
	2.	A(n) ________ is a problem solving strategy that is efficient but at the cost of occasional errors.
		A)	heuristic
		B)	algorithm
		C)	mental model
		D)	mental set
	3.	All of the following except ________ represent commonly used heuristics.
		A)	formula solving
		B)	hill-climbing method
		C)	means-end analysis
		D)	pictures and diagrams
	4.	What sets expert problem solvers apart from novice problem solvers is that experts:
		A)	make frequent use of analogies.
		B)	set subgoals to solving a problem.
		C)	organize their knowledge which helps to free up mental workspace.
		D)	All of the above.
	5.	An example of an ill-defined problem is:
		A)	solving a math formula.
		B)	developing a blockbuster movie.
		C)	baking a cake using a recipe.
		D)	finding your way through a maze.
	6.	An example of a well-defined problem is:
		A)	correctly diagnosing a sick person's ailments.
		B)	developing an effective economic plan for a third-world country.
		C)	getting all of the Hobbits safely to the other side of the river in the Hobbits and Orcs problem.
		D)	figuring out how to have a great time on vacation.
	7.	A thinking strategy that can be considered an enemy of good problem solving is:
		A)	functional fixedness.
		B)	having a problem-solving set.
		C)	failure to map prior experience onto new experience.
		D)	All of the above.
	8.	According to Wallas, creative thought proceeds through four stages. Which of the following represents the correct ordering of those stages?
		A)	Preparation - Incubation - Illumination - Verification
		B)	Incubation - Preparation - Illumination - Verification
		C)	Incubation - Illumination - Preparation - Verification
		D)	Illumination - Incubation - Preparation - Verification
	9.	If you were asked to find a fourth word (e.g., heart) that had something in common with three other words (e.g., ache sweet burn), you would most likely be completing the:
		A)	intuitive intelligence test (IIT).
		B)	remote associates test (RAT).
		C)	free association intelligence test (FAIT).
		D)	convergent thinking test (CTT).
	10.	Convergent thinking is:
		A)	an ability to spot ways in which seemingly distinct ideas might be interconnected.
		B)	a demonstration that creative people tend to solve problems in the same ways.
		C)	the ability to think consistently despite changes in the problem solving context.
		D)	when your brain keeps fixating on a single wrong answer even though you know it is the wrong answer.
	11.	When you complete the Remote Associations test, we would have a measure of your:
		A)	creative flow.
		B)	problem-solving set size.
		C)	convergent thinking.
		D)	divergent thinking.
	12.	If a researcher asked you to generate as many consequences as you can think of for the hypothetical question, "What would happen if everyone in the world woke up tomorrow with three legs?" that researcher would likely be measuring your:
		A)	creative flow.
		B)	problem-solving set size.
		C)	convergent thinking.
		D)	divergent thinking.

Your score out of 100%: %

The correct answers are marked by a "C" in the box before each question. The incorrect questions are marked by an "X".